Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571
Periploca atrata
This record describes Periploca atrata (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chrysopeleiinae
- Genus
- Periploca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
CA, AZ, and (BG record) NM
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae hollow out and inhabit the seeds of Juniperus spp. (juniper) berry-like cones. They have been recorded in J. califonica , J. deppeana , J. occidentalis , and J. osteosperma .
Life History
See references ( 3 ) ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Periploca atrata Hodges, 1962
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Periploca atrata. 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 Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Edward L. Ruden
Frequently Asked Questions About Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571
Where is Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571 found?
Range: CA, AZ, and (BG record) NM
What does Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571 eat?
The diet of the Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571 includes Larvae hollow out and inhabit the seeds of Juniperus spp. (juniper) berry-like cones. They have been recorded in J. califonica , J. deppeana , J. occidentalis , and J. osteosperma ..
What is the life cycle of a Juniper cone moth - Hodges#1571?
See references ( 3 ) ( 4 )