LepidopteraGelechiidae – Twirler Moths

Gelechia ribesella - Hodges#1960

Gelechia ribesella

This record describes Gelechia ribesella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Gelechia ribesella - Hodges#1960 - Gelechia ribesella
Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris

There are 4 BINs at BOLD for G. dromicella and G. ribesella . All four might represent good species. On the other hand, three group closely together and may together represent G. ribesella with a 4th more distantly speparated by DNA barcode: • G. ribesella ? (these are all close to eachother with BOLD:ADZ0979 providing the best match to the original description for G. ribesella ) BOLD:AAL2500 BOLD:ADZ0979 BOLD:ADZ0978 • G. ribesella ?: BOLD:AAN5602 Contributed by Steve Nanz (10/7/2020)

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Gelechioidea
Family
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
Subfamily
Gelechiinae
Tribe
Gelechiini
Genus
Gelechia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Author: Chambers, 1875

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gelechia ribesella. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Gelechia ribesella - Hodges#1960 (2)

Gelechia ribesella - Hodges#1960 - photo 1
Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris
Gelechia ribesella - Hodges#1960 - photo 2
Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris

Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.