Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1
Pelecystola nearctica
This record describes Pelecystola nearctica (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Genitalia: Widespread moth, described only in 2009.
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tineinae
- Genus
- Pelecystola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
"much of eastern North America from Quebec, Canada, south in the United States to Florida and west to Arkansas" (Davis & Davis, 2009)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelecystola nearctica. 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 Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by cotinis , Tony-2 , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1
What is Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1?
Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1 (Pelecystola nearctica) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1?
Forewing Length: 5.4–6.2 mm for males; 7.0–8.5 mm for females (Davis and Davis, 2009)
How do you identify Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1?
Genitalia:
Where is Pelecystola nearctica - Hodges#0434.1 found?
Range: much of eastern North America from Quebec, Canada, south in the United States to Florida and west to Arkansas (Davis & Davis, 2009)