Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091
Pelochrista matutina
This record describes Pelochrista matutina (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - Head and FW whitish with, scattered dark scales. Basal patch incomplete, with scattered dark costal scales. Middle brownish band continued with distinct edges marked by blackish scales. The succeeding whitish underspace is contracted medially by the more diffuse apical clouding which extends beyond the curved line. Beneath fuscous, with whitish costal edge and more distinct regularly divaricate dark streaks. Genitalia: ♂
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
Records throughout the United States minus the Pacific states. ( 3 ) Type: Texas ( Belfrage ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin matutinus meaning "morning."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelochrista matutina. 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 matutina - Hodges#3091 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091
What is Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091?
Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091 (Pelochrista matutina) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091?
Wingspan 12-14 mm.
How do you identify Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091?
Adult - Head and FW whitish with, scattered dark scales. Basal patch incomplete, with scattered dark costal scales. Middle brownish band continued with distinct edges marked by blackish scales. The succeeding whitish underspace is contracted medially by the more diffuse apical clouding which extends beyond the curved line. Beneath fuscous, with whitish costal edge and more distinct regularly divaricate dark streaks. Genitalia: ♂
Where is Pelochrista matutina - Hodges#3091 found?
Range: Records throughout the United States minus the Pacific states. ( 3 ) Type: Texas ( Belfrage ).