Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312
Lotisma trigonana
This record describes Lotisma trigonana (species). Recorded family: Copromorphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing brown with pale diagonal stripe that may enlarge to include base as pale triangle, and with apical half usually pale brown; hindwing pale brown [description by Ross Arnett].
Wikipedia reference for Lotisma trigonana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotisma_trigonana.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Carposinoidea
- Family
- Copromorphidae (Tropical Fruitworm Moths)
- Genus
- Lotisma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Pacific Coast, from Alaska to Costa Rica (Gaither, 1993).
Seasonal Activity
Adults may be found any time of year in California.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on salal ( Gaultheria shallon ) and sometimes cranberry ( Vaccinium ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin meaning "triangles," for the "triangular costal patch" on the forewings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lotisma trigonana. 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 Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by ceiseman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312
What is Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312?
Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312 (Lotisma trigonana) is a species in the family Copromorphidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 7.5-11.5 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 14-22 mm. |
How do you identify Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312?
Adult - forewing brown with pale diagonal stripe that may enlarge to include base as pale triangle, and with apical half usually pale brown; hindwing pale brown [description by Ross Arnett].
Where is Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312 found?
Range: Pacific Coast, from Alaska to Costa Rica (Gaither, 1993).
What does Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312 eat?
The diet of the Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312 includes Larvae feed on salal ( Gaultheria shallon ) and sometimes cranberry ( Vaccinium )..
When is Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312 active?
Lotisma trigonana - Hodges#2312: seasonal activity - Adults may be found any time of year in California..