Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811
Phtheochroa aureoalbida
This record describes Phtheochroa aureoalbida (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Cochylini
- Genus
- Phtheochroa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A mountain species.
Geographic Range
British Columbia and Alberta south to Colorado in the Rockies. Records from New Mexico and Ontario. Holotype male: Loveland 5-10000', Colorado, July, 1891 ( Smith ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "white gold," for the "silvery white" forewings "with a very pale golden yellow suffusion."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phtheochroa aureoalbida. 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 Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason J. Dombroskie; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811
What is Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811?
Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811 (Phtheochroa aureoalbida) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811?
Wingspan 16-19 mm.
How do you identify Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811?
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Where is Phtheochroa aureoalbida - Hodges#3811 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | A mountain species. |
| Range | British Columbia and Alberta south to Colorado in the Rockies. Records from New Mexico and Ontario. Holotype |
| Male | Loveland 5-10000', Colorado, July, 1891 ( Smith ). |