Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304
Erechthias minuscula
This record describes Erechthias minuscula (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: FW ground color is mostly cream or pale straw-colored. The forewings, which are strongly upturned at the tips, are variably and extensively marked with pale to dark brown scales. Larve: See Zimmerman, E.C., 1978 in Print References below
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
- Subfamily
- Erechthiinae
- Genus
- Erechthias
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are scavengers in dead plant materials and may be found in dead tree trunks, stems, leaves, fruits, and seed pods. Recorded plant material used as food includes banana, Cassia, eggplant, fig, Lantana, palms. See Zimmerman, E.C., 1978 in Print References below
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Erechthias minuscula. 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 Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304
What is Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304?
Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304 (Erechthias minuscula) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304?
FWL≈3.5-4mm
How do you identify Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304?
Adult: FW ground color is mostly cream or pale straw-colored. The forewings, which are strongly upturned at the tips, are variably and extensively marked with pale to dark brown scales. Larve: See Zimmerman, E.C., 1978 in Print References below
What does Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304 eat?
The diet of the Caribbean Scavenger Moth - Hodges#0304 includes Larvae are scavengers in dead plant materials and may be found in dead tree trunks, stems, leaves, fruits, and seed pods. Recorded plant material used as food includes banana, Cassia, eggplant, fig, Lantana, palms. See Zimmerman, E.C., 1978 in Print References below.