Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474
Proleucoptera smilaciella
This record describes Proleucoptera smilaciella (species). Recorded family: Lyonetiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Leucoptera smilaciella Busck is available online in the print references below. Proleucoptera smilaciella larvae are primary host to the Chalcidoid wasps of Aprostocetus .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Lyonetiidae (Lyonet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cemiostominae
- Genus
- Proleucoptera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from May to September. (MPG)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Proleucoptera smilaciella. 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 Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474
What is Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474?
Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474 (Proleucoptera smilaciella) is a species in the family Lyonetiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474?
The original description as Leucoptera smilaciella Busck is available online in the print references below.
Where is Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474 found?
Range: Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
When is Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474 active?
Proleucoptera smilaciella - Hodges#0474: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from May to September. (MPG).