Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2
Pelochrista guttulana
This record describes Pelochrista guttulana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Blanchard (1979) original description in PDF .
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
Heppner (2003) reported the range to include the southeastern United States, Florida to Texas. ( 3 ) Listed on North Carolina checklist. Holotype ♂ Texas, Kennedy Co., Padre Island National Seashore, 19 July 1976, A. Blanchard & M. E. Blanchard in USNM. ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) reported March to June, August to November. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the host unknown. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin guttula meaning "droplets" for the dots of the wings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelochrista guttulana. 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 Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2
What is Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2?
Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2 (Pelochrista guttulana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2?
Blanchard (1979) listed the forewing length. ♂ 7.5-12.0, mean = 9.5 mm. ♀ 9.0-11.0, mean = 10.3 mm.
How do you identify Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2?
Blanchard (1979) original description in PDF .
Where is Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) reported the range to include the southeastern United States, Florida to Texas. ( 3 ) Listed on North Carolina checklist. Holotype ♂ Texas, Kennedy Co., Padre Island National Seashore, 19 July 1976, A. Blanchard & M. E. Blanchard in USNM. ( 4 )
What does Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2 eat?
The diet of the Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2 includes Heppner (2003) reported the host unknown. ( 3 ).
When is Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2 active?
Speckled Pelochrista moth - Hodges#3009.2: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reported March to June, August to November. ( 3 ).