Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650
Parectopa bumeliella
This record describes Parectopa bumeliella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Coloration and markings are very subdued, compared with those of most other species that are placed in Parectopa .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ornixolinae
- Genus
- Parectopa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
As for the host plants.
Geographic Range
Known from the eastern USA where the host plants occur.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Species of Sideroxylon (formerly Bumelia ) (Sapotaceae). The early-instar larva makes a meandering upperside track mine; later, the mine is expanded into an upperside blotch, the upper surface of which is very thin, almost transparent; once the blotch is formed, the larva feeds on the floor of the mine, so that ultimately it is in effect a full-depth blotch; a narrow line of black frass is deposited all around the perimeter of the mine. After the larva finishes feeding, it leaves the mine and makes a small cocoon, often enclosed in a tight fold at the margin of a leaf as is typical for the genus.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The species is named after the genus of the larval host plant, which at the time of description of the moth was called Bumelia .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Parectopa bumeliella. 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 Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Terry Harrison; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650
What is Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650?
Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650 (Parectopa bumeliella) is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650?
Length, ~4mm.
How do you identify Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650?
Coloration and markings are very subdued, compared with those of most other species that are placed in Parectopa .
Where is Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | As for the host plants. |
| Range | Known from the eastern USA where the host plants occur. |
What does Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650 eat?
The diet of the Parectopa bumeliella - Hodges#0650 includes Species of Sideroxylon (formerly Bumelia ) (Sapotaceae). The early-instar larva makes a meandering upperside track mine; later, the mine is expanded into an upperside blotch, the upper surface of which is very thin, almost transparent; once the blotch is formed, the larva feeds on the floor of the mine, so that ultimately it is in effect a full-depth blotch; a narrow line of black frass is deposited all around the perimeter of the mine. After the larva finishes feeding, it leaves the mine and makes a small cocoon, often enclosed in a tight fold at the margin of a leaf as is typical for the genus..