LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776

Olethreutes furfuranum

This record describes Olethreutes furfuranum (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 - Olethreutes furfuranum
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi

Identification notes

Genitalia:

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
Family
Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
Subfamily
Olethreutinae
Tribe
Olethreutini
Genus
Olethreutes

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

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Records throughout the east. ( 3 ) Holotype male: Ottawa, Ontario (C.H. Young , June 20).

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larval host is shrubby blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus ). ( 4 )

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin furfuris meaning "scaly, scurfy."

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Olethreutes furfuranum. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 (5)

Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 - photo 1
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 - photo 2
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 - photo 3
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 - photo 4
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 - photo 5
Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi

Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi

Frequently Asked Questions About Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776

How big is Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776?

Wingspan 15-16 mm. ,

How do you identify Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776?

Genitalia:

Where is Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 found?
FeatureDetails
RangeRecords throughout the east. ( 3 ) Holotype
MaleOttawa, Ontario (C.H. Young , June 20).
What does Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 eat?

The diet of the Woolly-backed Moth - Hodges#2776 includes Larval host is shrubby blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus ). ( 4 ).

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.