Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226
Gypsonoma haimbachiana
This record describes Gypsonoma haimbachiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description on Print References. The larvae are among the most destructive pests of cottonwoods in our area.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Gypsonoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern half of the United States and adjacent Canada.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae bore into the buds and young shoots of cottonwoods, such as Populus balsamifera and P. deltoides , as well as some poplars (which are in the same genus).
Life History
Overwinter as larvae either in silk covered shallow pits excavated in healed-over borer entrance holes, in th margin of corky bark ridges below leaf bases, or in depressions of leaf scars. ( 3 ) When young larvae resume activity in spring they enter the tender, new shoots to feed and complete their development. The older overwintering larvae kill the bud and up to 10" of the terminal. ( 3 ) 4-5 generations in the Miss Delta region. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Frank Haimbach who collected the first specimens in Cincinnati, Ohio. Haimbachia Dyar, 1909 and Zelleria haimbachi Busck, 1915 are also named for him.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gypsonoma haimbachiana. 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 Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226
What is Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226?
Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226 (Gypsonoma haimbachiana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226?
Wingspan 13-17 mm.
How do you identify Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226?
Adult - see original description on Print References.
Where is Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226 found?
Range: Eastern half of the United States and adjacent Canada.
What does Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226 eat?
The diet of the Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226 includes The larvae bore into the buds and young shoots of cottonwoods, such as Populus balsamifera and P. deltoides , as well as some poplars (which are in the same genus)..
What is the life cycle of a Cottonwood Twig Borer - Hodges#3226?
Overwinter as larvae either in silk covered shallow pits excavated in healed-over borer entrance holes, in th margin of corky bark ridges below leaf bases, or in depressions of leaf scars. ( 3 ) When young larvae resume activity in spring they enter the tender, new shoots to feed and complete their development. The older overwintering larvae kill the bud and up to 10" of the terminal. ( 3 ) 4-5 generations in the Miss Delta region. ( 3 )