Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116
Pelochrista dorsisignatana
This record describes Pelochrista dorsisignatana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing ash-gray to brown with faint whitish lines; dark brown patch on inner margin near base; larger paler brown median patch bordered by costa and PM line; markings reduced or absent in some specimens [description by Charles Covell]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Pelochrista
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are from July to November. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on roots of goldenrod ( Solidago spp.)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: DORSISIGNATANA: from the Latin "dorsum" (the back) + "signum" (a mark); refers to the large dark mark on the moth's back - the "back" in this case meaning the midline where the forewings meet over the abdomen when the moth is at rest
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelochrista dorsisignatana. 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 Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , anitagould , Maury Heiman , ceiseman
Frequently Asked Questions About Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116
What is Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116?
Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116 (Pelochrista dorsisignatana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116?
wingspan 12-22 mm
How do you identify Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116?
Adult: forewing ash-gray to brown with faint whitish lines; dark brown patch on inner margin near base; larger paler brown median patch bordered by costa and PM line; markings reduced or absent in some specimens [description by Charles Covell]
Where is Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116 eat?
The diet of the Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116 includes larvae feed on roots of goldenrod ( Solidago spp.).
When is Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116 active?
Triangle-backed Pelochrista - Hodges#3116: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are from July to November. ( 5 ).