Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261
Gretchena watchungana
This record describes Gretchena watchungana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References. Genitalia:
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
New Brunswick to Maryland, west to Ontario and at least Kentucky. , Types and other specimens: Watchung Hills, Essex County, NJ (April 21 to May 8); Gloucester County, NJ (F. Haimbach , April 30); Grimsby, Ontario (J. Pettit ); New Brighton, PA (F.A. Merrick , Mar 22-April 18); Cincinnati, OH (Miss Braun , April 22).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus spp.) ( 151 ). ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the type location, Watchung Hills , Essex County, New Jersey.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gretchena watchungana. 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 watchungana - Hodges#3261 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261
What is Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261?
Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261 (Gretchena watchungana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261?
Wingspan 12-16 mm. ,
How do you identify Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261?
Adult - see original description in Print References. Genitalia:
Where is Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261 found?
Range: New Brunswick to Maryland, west to Ontario and at least Kentucky. , Types and other specimens: Watchung Hills, Essex County, NJ (April 21 to May 8); Gloucester County, NJ (F. Haimbach , April 30); Grimsby, Ontario (J. Pettit ); New Brighton, PA (F.A. Merrick , Mar 22-April 18); Cincinnati, OH (Miss Braun , April 22).
What does Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261 eat?
The diet of the Gretchena watchungana - Hodges#3261 includes Larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus spp.) ( 151 ). ( 4 ).