Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642
Ithome aquila
This record describes Ithome aquila (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Best separated from other Ithome spp. through dissection.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chrysopeleiinae
- Genus
- Ithome
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
South Florida .
Seasonal Activity
Records from November to April .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "Larvae feed on flowers of Pithecellobium unguis-cati (L.) Bentham.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ithome aquila. 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 Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642
What is Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642?
Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642 (Ithome aquila) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642?
Forewing length: 3.1-3.5 mm .
How do you identify Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642?
Best separated from other Ithome spp. through dissection.
Where is Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642 found?
Range: South Florida .
What does Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642 eat?
The diet of the Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642 includes Larvae feed on flowers of Pithecellobium unguis-cati (L.) Bentham..
When is Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642 active?
Ithome aquila - Hodges#1642: seasonal activity - Records from November to April ..