Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702
Episimus augmentana
This record describes Episimus augmentana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This species is distinguished by its ochreous head vertex and the dark reddish-brown forewing markings, including a half-circular dorsal margin mark .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Episimus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
In our area, this species occurs in subtropical south Florida, from the Miami area to the Florida Keys .
Seasonal Activity
"Successive generations throughout the year; records are for every month of the year .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are sumac ( Rhus ) and poisonwood ( Metopium toxiferum ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin augmentans meaning "augmenting."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Episimus augmentana. 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.
Photos of Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702
What is Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702?
Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702 (Episimus augmentana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702?
FWL: 5.5-6.8mm (♂), 6.8-7.3mm (♀) .
How do you identify Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702?
This species is distinguished by its ochreous head vertex and the dark reddish-brown forewing markings, including a half-circular dorsal margin mark .
Where is Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702 found?
Range: In our area, this species occurs in subtropical south Florida, from the Miami area to the Florida Keys .
What does Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702 eat?
The diet of the Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702 includes Larval hosts are sumac ( Rhus ) and poisonwood ( Metopium toxiferum )..
When is Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702 active?
Episimus augmentana - Hodges#2702: seasonal activity - Successive generations throughout the year; records are for every month of the year ..