LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866

Evora hemidesma

This record describes Evora hemidesma (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 - Evora hemidesma
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi

Identification notes

Genitalia:

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
Family
Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
Subfamily
Olethreutinae
Tribe
Olethreutini
Genus
Evora

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Heinrich reported the range to include Iowa, Illinois, east to Maine, south to Virginia, Kentucky. Type locality: Massachusetts ( Burgess , July 3).

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Heinrich reported the larvae feed on flower heads of steeplehead ( Spiraea tormentosa ) and goldenrod ( Solidago ).

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet possibly taken from the genus of sarsaparilla ( Hemidesmus ) for the wing color.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Evora hemidesma. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 (5)

Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 - photo 1
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi
Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 - photo 2
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi
Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 - photo 3
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi
Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 - photo 4
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi
Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 - photo 5
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi

Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi

Frequently Asked Questions About Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866

How big is Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866?

Heinrich listed the wingspan 13-17 mm.

How do you identify Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866?

Genitalia:

Where is Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 found?

Range: Heinrich reported the range to include Iowa, Illinois, east to Maine, south to Virginia, Kentucky. Type locality: Massachusetts ( Burgess , July 3).

What does Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 eat?

The diet of the Spirea Leaftier - Hodges#2866 includes Heinrich reported the larvae feed on flower heads of steeplehead ( Spiraea tormentosa ) and goldenrod ( Solidago )..

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

Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.