Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811
Olethreutes melanomesum
This record describes Olethreutes melanomesum (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Northeastern United States and eastern Canada. , Holotype ♂ collected Sebec Lake, Maine, 16 July 1923, Barnes, USNM.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be is May to August. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Ferguson listed Kalmia angustifolia L. (sheep laurel). Heinrich reported the host is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Olethreutes melanomesum. 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 Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811
How big is Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811?
Heinrich listed the wingspan 15-17 mm.
Where is Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811 found?
Range: Northeastern United States and eastern Canada. , Holotype ♂ collected Sebec Lake, Maine, 16 July 1923, Barnes, USNM.
What does Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811 eat?
The diet of the Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811 includes Ferguson listed Kalmia angustifolia L. (sheep laurel). Heinrich reported the host is unknown..
When is Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811 active?
Olethreutes melanomesum - Hodges#2811: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be is May to August. ,.