Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152
Pelochrista fratruelis
This record describes Pelochrista fratruelis (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
From original description: Superficially like scintillana Clemens (= Pelochrista scintillana - Hodges 3151) except that the wings are much broader in proportion to their length, a little more than half as long as broad; their ground color is an Indian red with the ocellus and its surrounding grayish and fuscous dusting occupying a large portion of the outer half of the wing, the grayish and fuscous in this part extending to costa; a straight rather narrow dull silver fascia at middle of wing; a spot of similar metallic scales on costa just beyond middle; a similar curved band of the same silver scaling on the reddish ground color from costa near apex to middle of termen; base of wing, thorax, and head mixed gray and fuscous; costal fold of male extending over one-third the wing length; hind wings dark brown; cilia paler. Male genitalia differs from all the forms of scintillana in the much narrower emargination between cucullus and sacculus of harpe.
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
Southeastern United States: North Carolina to Florida and westward to Louisiana (Moths of North Carolina) Type locality: Southern Pines, North Carolina
Seasonal Activity
Original specimens collected July 8 to Sept. 15 (Southern Pines, NC)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelochrista fratruelis. 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 fratruelis - Hodges#3152 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt; Additional contributions by cotinis
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152
What is Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152?
Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152 (Pelochrista fratruelis) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152?
wingspan 12-14 mm (Heinrich, 1923)
How do you identify Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152?
From original description: Superficially like scintillana Clemens (= Pelochrista scintillana - Hodges 3151) except that the wings are much broader in proportion to their length, a little more than half as long as broad; their ground color is an Indian red with the ocellus and its surrounding grayish and fuscous dusting occupying a large portion of the outer half of the wing, the grayish and fuscous in this part extending to costa; a straight rather narrow dull silver fascia at middle of wing; a spot of similar metallic scales on costa just beyond middle; a similar curved band of the same silver scaling on the reddish ground color from costa near apex to middle of termen; base of wing, thorax, and head mixed gray and fuscous; costal fold of male extending over one-third the wing length; hind wings dark brown; cilia paler. Male genitalia differs from all the forms of scintillana in the much narrower emargination between cucullus and sacculus of harpe.
Where is Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152 found?
Range: Southeastern United States: North Carolina to Florida and westward to Louisiana (Moths of North Carolina) Type locality: Southern Pines, North Carolina
When is Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152 active?
Pelochrista fratruelis - Hodges#3152: seasonal activity - Original specimens collected July 8 to Sept. 15 (Southern Pines, NC).