Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800
Olethreutes nigranum
This record describes Olethreutes nigranum (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - highly variable. Kearfott curated specimens as four separate species that Heinrich combined based on genitalia. 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
South and east of the Great Lakes, as far as Tennessee and Maine. ( 3 ) Type locality: Cincinnati, OH (Miss Annette F. Braun ), in AMNH.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Known larval hosts are sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ), American basswood ( Tilia americana ) and hickory ( Carya ). ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is an unpublished manuscript name of W.D. Kearfott , from Latin meaning "shining black."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Olethreutes nigranum. 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 Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800
What is Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800?
Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800 (Olethreutes nigranum) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800?
Wingspan 17-22 mm. ,
How do you identify Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800?
Adult - highly variable. Kearfott curated specimens as four separate species that Heinrich combined based on genitalia. Genitalia:
Where is Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800 found?
Range: South and east of the Great Lakes, as far as Tennessee and Maine. ( 3 ) Type locality: Cincinnati, OH (Miss Annette F. Braun ), in AMNH.
What does Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800 eat?
The diet of the Variable Nigranum - Hodges#2800 includes Known larval hosts are sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ), American basswood ( Tilia americana ) and hickory ( Carya ). ( 4 ).