Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444
Ofatulena duodecemstriata
This record describes Ofatulena duodecemstriata (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References. Ofatulena luminosa can be separated by color and pattern. However, there are three BINs at BOLD for O. duodecemstriata and O. luminosa : AAD3346 - Ofatulena duodecemstriata AAD3348 - Ofatulena duodecemstriata AAE5832 - Ofatulena luminosa The images in AAE5832 seem to be a better fit with the original description for O. luminosa as far as I can tell. Images in AAE5832 seem to refer to O. luminosa . Images in AAD3348 seem to be intermediate between the two species. The BINs are reasonably well separated inferring that 3 species may be involved. Jason Dombroskie agrees that AAD3348 may represent a new undescribed species. - Steve Nanz (9/18/2017)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Grapholitini
- Genus
- Ofatulena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
c. CA to the edge of e. TX, also UT - Map
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly April through September. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heinrich (1926) reported the larvae feed on the seedpods of Prosopis (mesquite). ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) Powell & Opler (2009) lists mesquite pods, and more specifically, screwbean mesquite ( Prosopis pubescens ). ( 3 ) Larvae have been reared on Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem thorn a.k.a. Mexican palo verde). ( 9 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: duodecemstriata (L). "twelve-lined" for the "twelve parallel transverse whitish lines" on the forewing.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ofatulena duodecemstriata. 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 Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444
What is Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444?
Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444 (Ofatulena duodecemstriata) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444?
Forewing length 5-8 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444?
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Where is Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444 found?
Range: c. CA to the edge of e. TX, also UT - Map
What does Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444 eat?
The diet of the Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444 includes Heinrich (1926) reported the larvae feed on the seedpods of Prosopis (mesquite). ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) Powell & Opler (2009) lists mesquite pods, and more specifically, screwbean mesquite ( Prosopis pubescens ). ( 3 ) Larvae have been reared on Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem thorn a.k.a. Mexican palo verde). ( 9 ).
When is Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444 active?
Ofatulena duodecemstriata - Hodges#3444: seasonal activity - Adults fly April through September. ( 3 ).