Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264
Gretchena amatana
This record describes Gretchena amatana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Heinrich stated, Forewing with a distinct, outwardly angulate, dark basal patch; on middle of dorsal margin a somewhat irregular pale blotch,...
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Gretchena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern Canada, northeastern United States, south to Tennessee. , , Holotype ♂ collected Oak Station, PA (F. Marloff , May), in AMNH. Other material: New Brighton, PA (H.D. Merrick , May-June); Hampton, NH (S.A. Shaw, June); Pittsburgh, PA (H. Engel , June 8-05); Jefferson County, WV ( Kearfott ).
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from April to July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Beadle & Leckie (2012) reported the larval host plant is unknown. ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin amatus meaning "loved."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gretchena amatana. 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 Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264
What is Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264?
Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264 (Gretchena amatana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264?
Heinrich reported the wingspan as 17-19 mm.
How do you identify Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264?
Heinrich stated, Forewing with a distinct, outwardly angulate, dark basal patch; on middle of dorsal margin a somewhat irregular pale blotch,...
Where is Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264 found?
Range: Eastern Canada, northeastern United States, south to Tennessee. , , Holotype ♂ collected Oak Station, PA (F. Marloff , May), in AMNH. Other material: New Brighton, PA (H.D. Merrick , May-June); Hampton, NH (S.A. Shaw, June); Pittsburgh, PA (H. Engel , June 8-05); Jefferson County, WV ( Kearfott ).
What does Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264 eat?
The diet of the Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264 includes Beadle & Leckie (2012) reported the larval host plant is unknown. ( 4 ).
When is Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264 active?
Gretchena amatana - Hodges#3264: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from April to July..