LepidopteraGelechiidae – Twirler Moths

Megacraspedus plutella - Hodges#1687

Megacraspedus plutella

This record describes Megacraspedus plutella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Megacraspedus plutella - Hodges#1687 - Megacraspedus plutella — Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Third joint of palpi and upper surface of the second one creamy white, the second otherwise dark gray brown; head, thorax and the dorsal margin of the primaries to a point beyond the beginning of the ciliae, creamy white, the primaries otherwise dark gray brown, except that the extreme costa is creamy white and the costal margin is obscurely streaked with the same hue. Ciliae of primaries creamy white, except at the apex. Al. ex. 7/16 inch. Season, September. The ornamentation reminds one of a Pluiella. - Chambers, 1874. Placement of Megacraspedus plutella in or near Metzneria , Isophrictis , or Monochroa may be supported based on dissected samples, thought to be that species, from AZ by Sangmi Lee and from IL by Terry Harrison. One of Lee's samples was barcoded and resides alongside Charles Melton's BOLD ID CMAZA1288-12 (BugGuide Photo # 445187 ) in BIN ( ABW6361 ). These two AZ samples have a small dark subcostal spot at one-third from the forewing base. This mark is found in Megacraspedus exilis Walsingham, 1909, type locality: Mexico, but is lacking in M. plutella , type locality: TX. The closest BIN ( AAM8607 ) contains one sample from TX and it lacks the subcostal spot but is otherwise similar. It may be that M. exilis is found in AZ and that M. plutella ranges from TX to IL. Conversely, it is possible that the two names represent one species in which case M. plutella would have precedence. The type specimens will likely need to be examined. The next closest BIN ( AAG5281 ) contains one sample from AZ which does have the subcostal spot. - Steve Nanz (2/2/2018)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily: Gelechioidea
Family: Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
Subfamily: Anomologinae
Genus: Megacraspedus

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Type locality: Texas

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Megacraspedus plutella (Chambers, 1874) Neda plutella Chambers, 1874

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Megacraspedus plutella. 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.

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