Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270
Helcystogramma melantherella
This record describes Helcystogramma melantherella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Dichomeridinae
- Genus
- Helcystogramma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
North Carolina to Florida and Texas. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Lectotype ♂ collected Palm Beach, Florida. 13-III-1900, Designated by Hodges (1986). ( 7 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Annual Ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia ), Globe Artichoke ( Cynara scolymus ), Rough Cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium ) and other members of the Asteraceae family.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Helcystogramma melantherella. 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 Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by George Smiley
Frequently Asked Questions About Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270
What is Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270?
Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270 (Helcystogramma melantherella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270?
Wingspan 12.5-13 mm.
How do you identify Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270 found?
Range: North Carolina to Florida and Texas. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Lectotype ♂ collected Palm Beach, Florida. 13-III-1900, Designated by Hodges (1986). ( 7 )
What does Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270 eat?
The diet of the Helcystogramma melantherella - Hodges#2270 includes Annual Ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia ), Globe Artichoke ( Cynara scolymus ), Rough Cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium ) and other members of the Asteraceae family..