Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014
Pelochrista ridingsana
This record describes Pelochrista ridingsana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Robinson (1869) original description as Conchylis ridingsana is online and linked in the print references.
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
Found throughout most of the western two-thirds of North America. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Types: Colorado Territory (James Ridings).
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is July to October. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva bore into broom snakeweed, Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby. ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of collector James Ridings (1803-1880), founder of the Philadelphia Entomological Society and one of the first to collect in the Colorado Territory.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pelochrista ridingsana. 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 Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014
What is Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014?
Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014 (Pelochrista ridingsana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014?
Robinson listed a wingspan of 23 mm. Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 7.5-13 mm.
How do you identify Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014?
Robinson (1869) original description as Conchylis ridingsana is online and linked in the print references.
Where is Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014 found?
Range: Found throughout most of the western two-thirds of North America. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Types: Colorado Territory (James Ridings).
What does Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014 eat?
The diet of the Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014 includes Larva bore into broom snakeweed, Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby. ( 5 ).
When is Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014 active?
Snakeweed Borer - Hodges#3014: seasonal activity - The main flight period is July to October. ( 4 ).