Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073
Eucopina monitorana
This record describes Eucopina monitorana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Broad white median band distinguishes this species from the similar E. tocullionana
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Eucopina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Pennsylvania to Minnesota, south to Virginia and Kentucky. , Type locality: Danville, PA (A.B. Champlain).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Cones of Red Pine and Virginia Pine ,
Life History
The larvae prefer 2nd-year cones, boring down the cone axis in June. The feed on immature seeds and sometimes sever the cone at the base. A single cone can contain up to 25 larvae. The last instar larvae sometimes migrates to fresh cones. Mature larvae leave the cones in July, dropping to the ground to pupate. ( 4 ) Overwinter as pupa. ( 4 ) One generation per year. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eucopina monitorana. 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 Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Paul Dennehy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073
What is Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073?
Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073 (Eucopina monitorana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073?
Wingspan 13-16 mm.
How do you identify Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073?
Broad white median band distinguishes this species from the similar E. tocullionana
Where is Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073 found?
Range: Pennsylvania to Minnesota, south to Virginia and Kentucky. , Type locality: Danville, PA (A.B. Champlain).
What does Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073 eat?
The diet of the Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073 includes Cones of Red Pine and Virginia Pine ,.
What is the life cycle of a Red Pinecone Borer Moth - Hodges#3073?
The larvae prefer 2nd-year cones, boring down the cone axis in June. The feed on immature seeds and sometimes sever the cone at the base. A single cone can contain up to 25 larvae. The last instar larvae sometimes migrates to fresh cones. Mature larvae leave the cones in July, dropping to the ground to pupate. ( 4 ) Overwinter as pupa. ( 4 ) One generation per year. ( 4 )