Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916
Eucosma formosana
This record describes Eucosma formosana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Eucosma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Northeastern North America. ( 5 ) Type locality: Illinois (Mr. Kennicott ). ( 6 )
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from May to August, but there are records from March to December. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heinrich (1923) reported Solidago sp. as the host plant. ( 6 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin formosa meaning "beautifully formed."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eucosma formosana. 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 Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916
How big is Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916?
Heinrich (1923) reported the wingspan as 18-20 mm. ( 6 )
How do you identify Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916?
Genitalia:
Where is Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916 found?
Range: Northeastern North America. ( 5 ) Type locality: Illinois (Mr. Kennicott ). ( 6 )
What does Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916 eat?
The diet of the Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916 includes Heinrich (1923) reported Solidago sp. as the host plant. ( 6 ).
When is Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916 active?
Beautiful Eucosma Moth - Hodges#2916: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from May to August, but there are records from March to December. ( 5 ).