Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258
Hypatima zesticopa
This record describes Hypatima zesticopa (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
12/30/2020 Comments by Ann Hendrickson: The TRUE Hypatima zesticopa is represented by the barcoded and is quite dark in color and has no light spots. It's caterpillar is also quite dark. Only one specimen has been verified from Texas but there are several photographs from Hidalgo that appear similar to me. I have barcoded 3 examples of Hypatima JFL1 and three examples of Hypatima JFL2 and believe I see consistencies that may make some visual identification to species possible. Hypatima JFL1 is usually a lighter beige in which I see white spots. See it's caterpillar is bright green. Hypatima JFL2 has a mottled more yellowish ground coloration with distinctive striped, fuzzy palps. See Hypatima zesticopa is currently the only described New World species in the genus. However, there are three Barcode Index Number groups (BINs) containing samples from the US identified as Hypatima at BOLD. It is uncertain which BIN represents true Hypatima zesticopa . Specimens from all three BINs were identified by Jean-Francois Landry. It would appear that BIN ACL2105 is true zesticopa and the other two may represent undescribed species given the wide separation by barcode. One of Mark Dreiling's examples currently placed at BugGuide as zesticopa is placed in BIN AAG0033 which is identified as Hypatima sp. JFL2. It may be likely that others at BugGuide may represent undescribed species. J-F Landry (pers. comm. 6/3/19) agrees with this summary and advises against identifying Hypatima to species without dissection or DNA. - Steve Nanz, 5/7/2019 (updated 6/2/21) • BIN: ACL2105 - Hypatima zesticopa - 24 specimens from AZ and one from Texas. • BIN: AAM8615 - Hypatima sp. JFL1" - 6 specimens from TX (includes speciems by BugGuide contributor, Ann Hendrickson) • BIN: AAG0033 - Hypatima sp. JFL2" - 10 specimens from TX, OK and AZ (includes speciems by BugGuide contributors, Ann Hendrickson and Mark Dreiling) Update 17 v 2026: AEP3810 appears to belong to this group
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anacampsinae
- Tribe
- Chelariini
- Genus
- Hypatima
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ, TX, NM Type: Texas, Alpine, Fort Davis, 5000-8000 feet; New Mexico, Bent, 7000 feet; April to July, October, November; 16 ex.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: One verified host plant for the TRUE Hypatima zesticopa is Mimosa texana. The caterpillar is very dark gray. One verified host plant for Hypatima JFL1 is Huisache. The caterpillar is bright green Information added by Ann Hendrickson 12/30/2020
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypatima zesticopa. 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 Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , A. Hendrickson
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258
What is Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258?
Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258 (Hypatima zesticopa) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258?
12/30/2020 Comments by Ann Hendrickson: The TRUE Hypatima zesticopa is represented by the barcoded and is quite dark in color and has no light spots. It's caterpillar is also quite dark. Only one specimen has been verified from Texas but there are several photographs from Hidalgo that appear similar to me. I have barcoded 3 examples of Hypatima JFL1 and three examples of Hypatima JFL2 and believe I see consistencies that may make some visual identification to species possible. Hypatima JFL1 is usually a lighter beige in which I see white spots. See it's caterpillar is bright green. Hypatima JFL2 has a mottled more yellowish ground coloration with distinctive striped, fuzzy palps. See
Where is Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258 found?
Range: AZ, TX, NM Type: Texas, Alpine, Fort Davis, 5000-8000 feet; New Mexico, Bent, 7000 feet; April to July, October, November; 16 ex.
What does Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258 eat?
The diet of the Hypatima zesticopa - Hodges#2258 includes One verified host plant for the TRUE Hypatima zesticopa is Mimosa texana. The caterpillar is very dark gray. One verified host plant for Hypatima JFL1 is Huisache. The caterpillar is bright green Information added by Ann Hendrickson 12/30/2020.