LepidopteraElachistidae – Grass Miner Moths

Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974

Ethmia nadia

This record describes Ethmia nadia (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974 - Ethmia nadia
Contributed by Steve Morris

Detailed description by Powell can be found at link in citations below.

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

California

Seasonal Activity

March to May in southern California; June & July in Siskiyou County

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Phacelia ramosissima

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ethmia nadia. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974

What is Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974?

Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974 (Ethmia nadia) is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974?

forewing 7.7-9.7 mm

How do you identify Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974?

Detailed description by Powell can be found at link in citations below.

Where is Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974 found?

Range: California

What does Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974 eat?

The diet of the Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974 includes Phacelia ramosissima.

When is Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974 active?

Ethmia nadia - Hodges#0974: seasonal activity - March to May in southern California; June & July in Siskiyou County.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.