Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155
Filatima nigripectus
This record describes Filatima nigripectus (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Gelechiini
- Genus
- Filatima
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common in January; June.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is unknown.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin meaning "black-breasted" for the sooty black ventral abdomen. Walsingham simultaneously described Gelechia albipectus from Mexico stating "all the femora, and underside of thorax and abdomen (except the anal segments), ivory-white, in strong contrast to those of nigripectus which are sooty black."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Filatima nigripectus. 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 Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155
How big is Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155?
Wingspan 15 mm.
Where is Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155 found?
Range: Arizona. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.
What does Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155 eat?
The diet of the Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155 includes Larval host is unknown..
When is Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155 active?
Filatima nigripectus - Hodges#2155: seasonal activity - Adults are most common in January; June..