Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900
Exaeretia umbraticostella
This record describes Exaeretia umbraticostella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description and Clarke re-description. ,
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Subfamily
- Depressariinae
- Genus
- Exaeretia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Up to at least 7,000 ft.
Geographic Range
British Columbia and South Dakota to western Texas and southern California Type localities: Mount Shasta, California; and "North Oregon."
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Have been reared on arrowleaf balsamroot ( Balsamohirza sagittata ) and little sunflower ( Helianthus pumilus ) where they feed within tubes, formed from tied terminal leaves. , ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin meaning "shaded-costa" for the "conspicuous outwardly diffused blackish fuscous shade on the middle of the costa."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Exaeretia umbraticostella. 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 Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900
What is Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900?
Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900 (Exaeretia umbraticostella) is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900?
Wingspan 16-19 mm. , Forewing length 6.0-8.5 mm. Mature larva to 11-12 mm.
How do you identify Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900?
Adult - see original description and Clarke re-description. ,
Where is Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Up to at least 7,000 ft. |
| Range | British Columbia and South Dakota to western Texas and southern California Type localities: Mount Shasta, California; and North Oregon. |
What does Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900 eat?
The diet of the Exaeretia umbraticostella - Hodges#0900 includes Have been reared on arrowleaf balsamroot ( Balsamohirza sagittata ) and little sunflower ( Helianthus pumilus ) where they feed within tubes, formed from tied terminal leaves. , ,.