Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788
Olethreutes inornatana
This record describes Olethreutes inornatana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing pale yellowish or silvery-gray with scattered black speckling; dark shading around perimeter (along outer margin and mid-way along costa) may extend inward to cover more of wing surface in some individuals; thorax chestnut-colored with central blackish patch (visible as raised tufts of scales when viewed from the side); colors in preserved specimens more subdued (duller and darker) than in live individuals; hindwing gray with dark veins and either pale or dark fringe. Larva - head and anal shield blackish, body white to pale green with pale reddish brown bands.
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
Maine and Quebec to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Illinois and Maryland; also reported from Kansas, Texas, and Alberta.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of black cherry ( Prunus serotina ), chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana ), dogwood ( Cornus spp.), and strawberry ( Fragaria spp.); also reported to feed on White Oak ( Quercus alba ). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "unadorned, undecorated."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Olethreutes inornatana. 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 Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by anitagould , Nick Block , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788
What is Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788?
Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788 (Olethreutes inornatana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788?
Wingspan 15-22 mm.
How do you identify Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788?
Adult - forewing pale yellowish or silvery-gray with scattered black speckling; dark shading around perimeter (along outer margin and mid-way along costa) may extend inward to cover more of wing surface in some individuals; thorax chestnut-colored with central blackish patch (visible as raised tufts of scales when viewed from the side); colors in preserved specimens more subdued (duller and darker) than in live individuals; hindwing gray with dark veins and either pale or dark fringe. Larva - head and anal shield blackish, body white to pale green with pale reddish brown bands.
Where is Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788 found?
Range: Maine and Quebec to Ontario and Wisconsin, south to Illinois and Maryland; also reported from Kansas, Texas, and Alberta.
What does Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788 eat?
The diet of the Inornate Olethreutes - Hodges#2788 includes Larvae feed on leaves of black cherry ( Prunus serotina ), chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana ), dogwood ( Cornus spp.), and strawberry ( Fragaria spp.); also reported to feed on White Oak ( Quercus alba ). ( 3 ).