Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944
Nites betulella
This record describes Nites betulella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Subfamily
- Depressariinae
- Genus
- Nites
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Brunswick to eastern Quebec, south to Maine.
Seasonal Activity
April to October in Maine Alberta August to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on white birch and hophornbeam. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nites betulella. 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 Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944
Where is Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944 found?
Range: New Brunswick to eastern Quebec, south to Maine.
What does Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944 eat?
The diet of the Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944 includes The larvae feed on white birch and hophornbeam. ( 4 ).
When is Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944 active?
Black-dotted Birch Leaftier Moth - Hodges#0944: seasonal activity - April to October in Maine Alberta August to September..