Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703
Episimus tyrius
This record describes Episimus tyrius (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Eastern United States from New York to Florida west to Texas. Type locality: Westbury, Queens County, NY (M.V. Slingerland ).
Seasonal Activity
Moth flies year round in Florida, but flies from June - August in other parts of its range.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on mainly on maples, but may also use Redbay and Carolina Laurel Cherry. Gordonia lasianthus (T.Feldman)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tyrius (i.e. the Tyrian) is an epithet of Hercules in Greek mythology.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Episimus tyrius. 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 Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by ceiseman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703
How big is Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703?
Wingspan 15-15.5 mm.
Where is Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703 found?
Range: Eastern United States from New York to Florida west to Texas. Type locality: Westbury, Queens County, NY (M.V. Slingerland ).
What does Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703 eat?
The diet of the Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703 includes Larvae feed on mainly on maples, but may also use Redbay and Carolina Laurel Cherry. Gordonia lasianthus (T.Feldman).
When is Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703 active?
Maple Leaftier Moth - Hodges#2703: seasonal activity - Moth flies year round in Florida, but flies from June - August in other parts of its range..