Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594
Pandemis limitata
This record describes Pandemis limitata (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing varies from light to dark brown with prominent dark brown markings. The basal, median and upper postmedian lines are distinct and sharply defined with pale edging. The hindwing is white, often with the lower half grey. The larva is green with a green or brown thoracic shield and head. Distinct spots may be present on the lateral parts of the thoracic shield. ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Pandemis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Across Canada and the northern United States to the Rocky Mountain states, Washington and north coastal California. E.H. Strickland Museum states range from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, south to Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are leafrollers on various deciduous trees, not conifers. Considered a pest on apple in New York. See large list of recorded hosts at TortAI.
Life History
See TortAI. ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "limited," for the "basal patch, central fascia and costal spot dark brown, distinctly limited by lines of pale testaceous scales."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pandemis limitata. 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 Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tom Bentley; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , anitagould , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Jason Dombroskie , Fyn Kynd
Frequently Asked Questions About Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594
What is Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594?
Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594 (Pandemis limitata) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594?
Forewing length 7-12 mm, females larger than males.
How do you identify Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594?
Adult - forewing varies from light to dark brown with prominent dark brown markings. The basal, median and upper postmedian lines are distinct and sharply defined with pale edging. The hindwing is white, often with the lower half grey. The larva is green with a green or brown thoracic shield and head. Distinct spots may be present on the lateral parts of the thoracic shield. ( 3 )
Where is Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594 found?
Range: Across Canada and the northern United States to the Rocky Mountain states, Washington and north coastal California. E.H. Strickland Museum states range from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, south to Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana.
What does Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594 eat?
The diet of the Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594 includes Larvae are leafrollers on various deciduous trees, not conifers. Considered a pest on apple in New York. See large list of recorded hosts at TortAI..
What is the life cycle of a Three-lined Leafroller - Hodges#3594?
See TortAI. ( 4 )