Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092
Geina tenuidactylus
This record describes Geina tenuidactylus (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Landry , Hunt & Matthews , McDunnough as Pterophorus cygnus (discussion of synonym), and Barnes & Lindsey as Pterophorus cygnus (redescribed due to a misidentification). See the identification section of the Geina tenuidactylus or G. buscki page. Geina tenuidactylus and G. buscki adults cannot be reliably identified on sight or in photo records. Males can be determined by brushing scales off the valvae, females by dissection. See Landry, 1987 and Hunt & Matthews, 2020 . Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pterophoroidea
- Family
- Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pterophorinae
- Tribe
- Oxyptilini
- Genus
- Geina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Rubus and Fragaria ( Moths of North Carolina )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Geina tenuidactylus. 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 Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Boone; Additional contributions by cotinis , Tony-2 , Ted Kropiewnicki , marcie oconnor , treichard , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092
What is Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092?
Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092 (Geina tenuidactylus) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092?
Wingspan circa 17 mm (guide photo with measurements)
How do you identify Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092?
See the identification key for Oxyptilini . See the species accounts in Landry , Hunt & Matthews , McDunnough as Pterophorus cygnus (discussion of synonym), and Barnes & Lindsey as Pterophorus cygnus (redescribed due to a misidentification). See the identification section of the Geina tenuidactylus or G. buscki page. Geina tenuidactylus and G. buscki adults cannot be reliably identified on sight or in photo records. Males can be determined by brushing scales off the valvae, females by dissection. See Landry, 1987 and Hunt & Matthews, 2020 . Genitalia: ♀ ♂
What does Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092 eat?
The diet of the Himmelman's Plume Moth - Hodges#6092 includes Rubus and Fragaria ( Moths of North Carolina ).