LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269

Epinotia radicana

This record describes Epinotia radicana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 - Epinotia radicana
Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
Family
Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
Subfamily
Olethreutinae
Tribe
Eucosmini
Genus
Epinotia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and California.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Picea glauca, Abies balsamea, Pseudotsuga menziesii , and possibly Pinus .

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet from Paedisca radicana (Walsingham) that Heinrich made the type for his new genus Griselda . Ultimately Griselda radicana (Heinrich) was elevated as a new species and all names were retained.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epinotia radicana. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.

Ecological role of the group

Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.

Economic and practical significance of the group

Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.

Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 (5)

Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 - photo 1
Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd
Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 - photo 2
Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd
Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 - photo 3
Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd
Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 - photo 4
Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd
Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 - photo 5
Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd

Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd

Frequently Asked Questions About Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269

How big is Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269?

Forewing length 4.5-7.0 mm.

Where is Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 found?

Range: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and California.

What does Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 eat?

The diet of the Red-striped Needleworm - Hodges#3269 includes Picea glauca, Abies balsamea, Pseudotsuga menziesii , and possibly Pinus ..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.