Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172
Filatima serotinella
This record describes Filatima serotinella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Gelechia serotinella Busck, is available in PDF and online in the print references below. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
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
Records are mostly from eastern North America. , Alberta record on Moth Photographers Group. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from March to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Originally described as a Black Cherry ( Prunus serotina ) specialist , but subsequently found and reared on other Prunus species.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet refers to the larval host, Prunus serotina .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Filatima serotinella. 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 serotinella - Hodges#2172 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , George Smiley , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172
What is Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172?
Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172 (Filatima serotinella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172?
Wingspan 16-21 mm.
How do you identify Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172?
The original description as Gelechia serotinella Busck, is available in PDF and online in the print references below. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172 found?
Range: Records are mostly from eastern North America. , Alberta record on Moth Photographers Group. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172 eat?
The diet of the Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172 includes Originally described as a Black Cherry ( Prunus serotina ) specialist , but subsequently found and reared on other Prunus species..
When is Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172 active?
Filatima serotinella - Hodges#2172: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from March to October..