Olethreutes osmundana - Hodges#2829
Olethreutes osmundana
This record describes Olethreutes osmundana (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
Records from the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. ( 3 ) Type locality: Orono, ME (Mr. A. Allen , found feeding on Osmunda regalis , emerged July 1, 1879).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are leaf tiers on: great ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida ) western brackenfern ( Pteridium aquilinum ). cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea ) royal fern ( Osmunda regalis )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from the host plant genus ( Osmunda ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Olethreutes osmundana. 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 osmundana - Hodges#2829 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Olethreutes osmundana - Hodges#2829
How big is Olethreutes osmundana - Hodges#2829?
Wingspan 12 mm.
Where is Olethreutes osmundana - Hodges#2829 found?
Range: Records from the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. ( 3 ) Type locality: Orono, ME (Mr. A. Allen , found feeding on Osmunda regalis , emerged July 1, 1879).
What does Olethreutes osmundana - Hodges#2829 eat?
The diet of the Olethreutes osmundana - Hodges#2829 includes Larvae are leaf tiers on: great ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida ) western brackenfern ( Pteridium aquilinum ). cinnamon fern ( Osmunda cinnamomea ) royal fern ( Osmunda regalis ).
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