Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6
Pelochrista floridensis
This record describes Pelochrista floridensis (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Distinguished by the wine-red color of the postmedian band, and the pinkish tint to the distal one-half of the FW. Interfascial areas pale gray brown, variably suffused with white and pale reddish brown. Subbasal and pretornal marks blackish brown with white edging. Postmedian band reddish brown, with some black and gray scaling. Fringe scales blackish gray to reddish gray, with white apices. Costal markings mostly striate.
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.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelochrista floridensis. 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 Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robert Lord Zimlich; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6
What is Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6?
Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6 (Pelochrista floridensis) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6?
FWL ≈ 7.9mm (male), 7.6mm (female)
How do you identify Pelochrista floridensis - Hodges#3132.6?
Adult : Distinguished by the wine-red color of the postmedian band, and the pinkish tint to the distal one-half of the FW. Interfascial areas pale gray brown, variably suffused with white and pale reddish brown. Subbasal and pretornal marks blackish brown with white edging. Postmedian band reddish brown, with some black and gray scaling. Fringe scales blackish gray to reddish gray, with white apices. Costal markings mostly striate.