Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987
Ethmia monticola
This record describes Ethmia monticola (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References. Not strongly attracted to lights.
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
British Columbia and Alberta to California and Arizona, east at least to North Dakota and Colorado.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts unknown but plants in the borage/forget-me-not family (Boraginaceae) are suspected, including hound's toungue ( Cynoglossum ), stoneseed ( Lithospermum ), comfrey ( Symphytum ) and/or bluebells ( Mertensia ). ( 4 ) Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) Lehm.– Hoary puccoon, and possibly other Lithospermum spp. ( 6 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin meaning "mountain dweller." Walsingham described it from a single specimen from the "Siskiyo range of mountains on the borders of California and Oregon."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ethmia monticola. 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 Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987
What is Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987?
Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987 (Ethmia monticola) is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 11-14.5 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 22-25 mm. , |
How do you identify Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987?
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Where is Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987 found?
Range: British Columbia and Alberta to California and Arizona, east at least to North Dakota and Colorado.
What does Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987 eat?
The diet of the Gray Ethmia - Hodges#0987 includes Larval hosts unknown but plants in the borage/forget-me-not family (Boraginaceae) are suspected, including hound's toungue ( Cynoglossum ), stoneseed ( Lithospermum ), comfrey ( Symphytum ) and/or bluebells ( Mertensia ). ( 4 ) Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) Lehm.– Hoary puccoon, and possibly other Lithospermum spp. ( 6 ).