Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435
Mompha claudiella
This record describes Mompha claudiella (species). Recorded family: Momphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Momphidae (Momphid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Momphinae
- Genus
- Mompha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Texas, north to Alberta and Manitoba. ,
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from May to September.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of Claud Marmont, who collected the first specimens.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mompha claudiella. 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 Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435
What is Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435?
Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435 (Mompha claudiella) is a species in the family Momphidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435?
Wingspan about 20 mm.
How do you identify Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435?
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Where is Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435 found?
Range: California to Texas, north to Alberta and Manitoba. ,
When is Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435 active?
Mompha claudiella - Hodges#1435: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from May to September..