Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645
Obithome punctiferella
This record describes Obithome punctiferella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Det. Ed Knudson, 2009 Type Locality: Victoria, Texas.
Identification notes
Det. Ed Knudson, 2009
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chrysopeleiinae
- Genus
- Obithome
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. to c. TX ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: One captured larva was feeding on Acacia constricta (Huisache). A. Hendrickson
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Obithome punctiferella. 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 Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , A. Hendrickson
Frequently Asked Questions About Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645
What is Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645?
Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645 (Obithome punctiferella) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645?
Det. Ed Knudson, 2009
Where is Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645 found?
Range: s. to c. TX ,
What does Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645 eat?
The diet of the Obithome punctiferella - Hodges#1645 includes One captured larva was feeding on Acacia constricta (Huisache). A. Hendrickson.