White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863
Hedya chionosema
This record describes Hedya chionosema (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing medium brownish-gray to bronzy, crossed by three dark brown partial bands; large white semicircular patch along distal half of costa but not reaching apex; raised tuft of dark scales protrudes from top of thorax near base of wings; head and face color varies from brown to yellowish-orange.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Hedya
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Quebec to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan and Ontario.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: In North America larvae feed on buds and leaves of: ( 3 ) apple ( Malus ) pear ( Pyrus ) hawthorn ( Crataegus ) northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ) mountain ash ( Sorbus )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Greek chion meaning "snow" for the "snow-white costal triangle [schneeweisser Costalfieck]" of the forewing.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hedya chionosema. 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 White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863
What is White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863?
White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863 (Hedya chionosema) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863?
Wingspan 14-18 mm.
How do you identify White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863?
Adult - forewing medium brownish-gray to bronzy, crossed by three dark brown partial bands; large white semicircular patch along distal half of costa but not reaching apex; raised tuft of dark scales protrudes from top of thorax near base of wings; head and face color varies from brown to yellowish-orange.
Where is White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863 found?
Range: Quebec to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan and Ontario.
What does White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863 eat?
The diet of the White-spotted Hedya - Hodges#2863 includes In North America larvae feed on buds and leaves of: ( 3 ) apple ( Malus ) pear ( Pyrus ) hawthorn ( Crataegus ) northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ) mountain ash ( Sorbus ).