Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861
Hedya ochroleucana-of-authors
This record describes Hedya ochroleucana-of-authors (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - rather similar in appearance to some of the other Hedya species, this moth can usually be distinguished by the relatively clean-looking creamy outer part of the forewing. Note: true Hedya ochroleucana is a strictly Palearctic species. Nearctic specimens belong to two or more undescribed species. ( 3 )
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
Present in Europe, and in most of North America.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on wing in June and July in western Europe
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are leaf rollers on rose ( Rosa ), mountain ash ( Sorbus ) and apple ( Malus ) species. ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "ocher and white." Hedya ochroleucana of authors, not (Frölich, 1828) is treated as two or more cryptic species, possibly referring to one or more of the current synonyms of ochroleucana , with "true" ochroleucana listed as extralimital (Nearctic) in Gilligan et al. (2020), Insects, 11(9), 594: 1-59. Synonyms of ochroleucana with North American type localities await revision.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hedya ochroleucana-of-authors. 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 Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , anitagould , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861
What is Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861?
Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861 (Hedya ochroleucana-of-authors) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 16-21 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 8-11 mm. |
How do you identify Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861?
Adult - rather similar in appearance to some of the other Hedya species, this moth can usually be distinguished by the relatively clean-looking creamy outer part of the forewing.
Where is Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861 found?
Range: Present in Europe, and in most of North America.
What does Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861 eat?
The diet of the Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861 includes Larvae are leaf rollers on rose ( Rosa ), mountain ash ( Sorbus ) and apple ( Malus ) species. ,.
When is Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861 active?
Off-white Hedya - Hodges#2861: seasonal activity - Adults are on wing in June and July in western Europe.