LepidopteraPterophoridae – Plume Moths

False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127

Paraplatyptilia auriga

This record describes Paraplatyptilia auriga (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127 - Paraplatyptilia auriga
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by treichard

See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Gielis for Paraplatyptilia watkinsi and Barnes & Lindsey for Paraplatyptilia auriga as Platyptilia auriga .

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Pterophoroidea
Family
Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
Subfamily
Pterophorinae
Tribe
Platyptiliini
Genus
Paraplatyptilia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: The larval hostplant is Gerardia species.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Paraplatyptilia auriga. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127

What is False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127?

False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127 (Paraplatyptilia auriga) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127?

Wingspan about 18 mm.

How do you identify False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127?

See the identification key for Platyptiliini . See the species accounts in Gielis for Paraplatyptilia watkinsi and Barnes & Lindsey for Paraplatyptilia auriga as Platyptilia auriga .

What does False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127 eat?

The diet of the False Foxglove Plume Moth - Hodges#6127 includes The larval hostplant is Gerardia species..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by treichard. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.