Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836
Exoteleia californica
This record describes Exoteleia californica (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Busck original description as Paralechia californica is online and linked in the print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Litini
- Genus
- Exoteleia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California. Holotype from Los Angeles County, California (#9896 in U. S. National Museum).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2009) reared on Quercus chrysolepis Liebm. (canyon live oak). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Exoteleia californica. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836
What is Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836?
Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836 (Exoteleia californica) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836?
Busck listed the wingspan 15 mm. Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 6.8-8.0 mm.
How do you identify Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836?
Busck original description as Paralechia californica is online and linked in the print references.
Where is Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836 found?
Range: California. Holotype from Los Angeles County, California (#9896 in U. S. National Museum).
What does Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836 eat?
The diet of the Exoteleia californica - Hodges#1836 includes Powell & Opler (2009) reared on Quercus chrysolepis Liebm. (canyon live oak). ( 3 ).