Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698
Leucospilapteryx venustella
This record describes Leucospilapteryx venustella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The dorsal margin is white/pale in the basal half, as seen in this reared individual: This feature is not present in any of the reared specimens of Acrocercops astericola uploaded to BugGuide. An undescribed species in an undescribed genus is similar to L. venusta , but in the single example available for comparison, the forewing ground color is paler and the front and middle tibiae are pure white (unmarked): page creation based on identification of this image by Terry Harrison
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acrocercopinae
- Genus
- Leucospilapteryx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e US - Map (MPG)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leucospilapteryx venustella. 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 Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Ron M. , ceiseman
Frequently Asked Questions About Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698
What is Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698?
Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698 (Leucospilapteryx venustella) is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698?
The dorsal margin is white/pale in the basal half, as seen in this reared individual: This feature is not present in any of the reared specimens of Acrocercops astericola uploaded to BugGuide. An undescribed species in an undescribed genus is similar to L. venusta , but in the single example available for comparison, the forewing ground color is paler and the front and middle tibiae are pure white (unmarked):
Where is Leucospilapteryx venustella - Hodges#0698 found?
Range: e US - Map (MPG)