Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1
Oxyptilus eleanerae
This record describes Oxyptilus eleanerae (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See the species account in Matthews . Oxyptilus eleanarae adults have: a well developed outer margin on the forewing second lobe, unlike in Dejongia , Megalorhipida , Buckleria , and Trichoptilus . a gray ground color, unlike the tawny brown or chocolate brown ground color of other species in the tribe. the abdominal pattern continued on segment 4, rather than interrupted as unmarked or obscurely marked brown on that segment as in Geina and Sphenarches species. the posterior parts of the mesothorax and tegulae whitish, with whitish longitudinal lines on the metathorax, as in Capperia species and unlike in Geina species and Sphenarches ontario . the forewing first lobe postmedial line more oblique than its antemedial line, unlike in Oxyptilus delawaricus (postmedial line less oblique than its antemedial line) and Capperia species (the lines nearly parallel).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pterophoroidea
- Family
- Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pterophorinae
- Tribe
- Oxyptilini
- Genus
- Oxyptilus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
NM, AZ, and Davis Mountains, TX (Matthews, 2017). Type locality: Sandoval Co., NM.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oxyptilus eleanerae. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1
What is Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1?
Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1 (Oxyptilus eleanerae) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1?
See the species account in Matthews . Oxyptilus eleanarae adults have: a well developed outer margin on the forewing second lobe, unlike in Dejongia , Megalorhipida , Buckleria , and Trichoptilus . a gray ground color, unlike the tawny brown or chocolate brown ground color of other species in the tribe. the abdominal pattern continued on segment 4, rather than interrupted as unmarked or obscurely marked brown on that segment as in Geina and Sphenarches species. the posterior parts of the mesothorax and tegulae whitish, with whitish longitudinal lines on the metathorax, as in Capperia species and unlike in Geina species and Sphenarches ontario . the forewing first lobe postmedial line more oblique than its antemedial line, unlike in Oxyptilus delawaricus (postmedial line less oblique than its antemedial line) and Capperia species (the lines nearly parallel).
Where is Eleaner’s Plume Moth - Hodges#6097.1 found?
Range: NM, AZ, and Davis Mountains, TX (Matthews, 2017). Type locality: Sandoval Co., NM.