Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831
Pristerognatha agilana
This record describes Pristerognatha agilana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
DNA confirmed but as of 4/2017 BOLD still uses the name Pristerognatha fuligana which is extralimital. The species page includes two BIN groups with one being strictly new world and the other old world. The new world group refers to Pristerognatha agilana (Clemens, 1860). Genitalia: ♀ ♂ One of several Nearctic Olethreutes s. l. species with iridescent spots on the forewings: [missing] [missing] [missing] astrologana coruscana ferrolineana metallica nordeggana sordidana galaxana [missing] siderana concretana auricapitana nr. auricapitana albiciliana agilana
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Pristerognatha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Believed to fly from April to August and eggs are laid during this period in the stems of touch-me-not balsam and Himalayan balsam, where the stem-mining caterpillar feeds and hibernates. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are stem borers of touch-me-not, including jewelweed ( Impatiens capensis ), as well as tansy ( Tanacetum ) and Himalayan balsam. , ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pristerognatha agilana (Clemens, 1860) was synonymized with Pristerognatha fuligana by Oku (1970) and reinstated by Miller (1985) based on genitalia but authors and websites continue to refer to this species as Pristerognatha fuligana as of 2017. DNA barcoding supports Miller (1985).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pristerognatha agilana. 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 Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831
What is Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831?
Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831 (Pristerognatha agilana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831?
Wingspan 11-14 mm.
How do you identify Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831?
DNA confirmed but as of 4/2017 BOLD still uses the name Pristerognatha fuligana which is extralimital. The species page includes two BIN groups with one being strictly new world and the other old world. The new world group refers to Pristerognatha agilana (Clemens, 1860). Genitalia: ♀ ♂
What does Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831 eat?
The diet of the Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831 includes Larvae are stem borers of touch-me-not, including jewelweed ( Impatiens capensis ), as well as tansy ( Tanacetum ) and Himalayan balsam. , ,.
When is Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831 active?
Pristerognatha agilana - Hodges#2831: seasonal activity - Believed to fly from April to August and eggs are laid during this period in the stems of touch-me-not balsam and Himalayan balsam, where the stem-mining caterpillar feeds and hibernates. ( 3 ).