Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001
Ethmia albicostella
This record describes Ethmia albicostella (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Narrow forewings which are evenly divided by a straight, longitudinal line, brownish gray on costal, white on dorsal half .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Elachistidae (Grass Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ethmiinae
- Genus
- Ethmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
"Southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Montana (Bozeman) through the southern Rocky Mountain states at moderately high elevations (mostly 7,000-8,000 feet) and mountains of western Mexico at least to Durango (25 mi W. Durango, 8,100 feet)" .
Seasonal Activity
Mid-June to early August .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Puccoons ( Lithospermum spp.) in Wyoming (A.F. Braun) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ethmia albicostella. 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 Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001
What is Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001?
Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001 (Ethmia albicostella) is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001?
Forewing length: 10.5-13.2 mm .
How do you identify Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001?
Narrow forewings which are evenly divided by a straight, longitudinal line, brownish gray on costal, white on dorsal half .
Where is Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001 found?
Range: Southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Montana (Bozeman) through the southern Rocky Mountain states at moderately high elevations (mostly 7,000-8,000 feet) and mountains of western Mexico at least to Durango (25 mi W. Durango, 8,100 feet) .
What does Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001 eat?
The diet of the Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001 includes Puccoons ( Lithospermum spp.) in Wyoming (A.F. Braun) ..
When is Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001 active?
Ethmia albicostella - Hodges#1001: seasonal activity - Mid-June to early August ..