Potato Moth - Hodges#2011
Phthorimaea operculella
This record describes Phthorimaea operculella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing slender, brownish-gray with scattered dark markings, especially along inner margin near base and along outer margin; hindwing slender, gray with long hairlike scales along inner and outer margins Larva: body pale pinkish-white; each abdominal segment with a few black dots and small number of bristles; head brownish-black
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Gnorimoschemini
- Genus
- Phthorimaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
potato storehouses, fields of potato, tomato, or tobacco, weedy areas where foodplants grow
Geographic Range
cosmopolitan, it originated in Central or South America
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to October outdoors, or any time of year indoors
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on potato tubers, the stem, leaves, and green fruit of tomatoes, leaves of tobacco, and various weedy members of the tomato family (Solanaceae)
Life History
up to six overlapping generations per year; overwinters as an egg, larva, or adult, often in potato seed storehouses
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: operculella is Latin for "little lid or cover"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phthorimaea operculella. 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 Potato Moth - Hodges#2011 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz
Frequently Asked Questions About Potato Moth - Hodges#2011
What is Potato Moth - Hodges#2011?
Potato Moth - Hodges#2011 (Phthorimaea operculella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Potato Moth - Hodges#2011?
wingspan 10-12 mm larva length 10-12 mm
How do you identify Potato Moth - Hodges#2011?
Adult: forewing slender, brownish-gray with scattered dark markings, especially along inner margin near base and along outer margin; hindwing slender, gray with long hairlike scales along inner and outer margins Larva: body pale pinkish-white; each abdominal segment with a few black dots and small number of bristles; head brownish-black
Where is Potato Moth - Hodges#2011 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | potato storehouses, fields of potato, tomato, or tobacco, weedy areas where foodplants grow |
| Range | cosmopolitan, it originated in Central or South America |
What does Potato Moth - Hodges#2011 eat?
The diet of the Potato Moth - Hodges#2011 includes larvae feed on potato tubers, the stem, leaves, and green fruit of tomatoes, leaves of tobacco, and various weedy members of the tomato family (Solanaceae).
When is Potato Moth - Hodges#2011 active?
Potato Moth - Hodges#2011: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to October outdoors, or any time of year indoors.
What is the life cycle of a Potato Moth - Hodges#2011?
up to six overlapping generations per year; overwinters as an egg, larva, or adult, often in potato seed storehouses