Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743
Platynota exasperatana-complex
This record describes Platynota exasperatana-complex (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing pale gray, shaded with darker gray to blackish in median and basal areas, and marked with traces of black lines; pale blotches may be present along costa in median area; diffuse gray spot usually visible in subterminal area near anal angle; hindwing variably light to dark brownish-gray. BOLD:ABZ2971 (FL, IL) BOLD:ACE3549 (ON, QC, NB, NS, s. Appalachians) BOLD:ABY7899 (OK, s. Appalachians, e. VA) ( BugGuide page )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Sparganothini
- Genus
- Platynota
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Described material: Texas ( Boll ); New York ( Speyer ). Zeller, 1875
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin exasperatus meaning "roughened."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Platynota exasperatana-complex. 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 Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743
What is Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743?
Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743 (Platynota exasperatana-complex) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743?
Wingspan about 13 mm.
How do you identify Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743?
Adult - forewing pale gray, shaded with darker gray to blackish in median and basal areas, and marked with traces of black lines; pale blotches may be present along costa in median area; diffuse gray spot usually visible in subterminal area near anal angle; hindwing variably light to dark brownish-gray.
Where is Exasperating Platynota - Hodges#3743 found?
Range: Described material: Texas ( Boll ); New York ( Speyer ). Zeller, 1875