Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894
Prolita princeps
This record describes Prolita princeps (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : The scales on the costal half at the base and the costal margin on the forewings are buff white with brown tips, while the scales on the area costad and distad of the medial brown streak are white to buff white with pale brown apices, and the scales dorsad of the brown streak are pale yellow. A few buff tipped scales are found on the outer margin. The hindwings are fuscous, with the veins slightly darker.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Gelechiini
- Genus
- Prolita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Prolita princeps. 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 Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894
What is Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894?
Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894 (Prolita princeps) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894?
WS ≈ 16.5-20 mm
How do you identify Prolita princeps - Hodges#1894?
Adult : The scales on the costal half at the base and the costal margin on the forewings are buff white with brown tips, while the scales on the area costad and distad of the medial brown streak are white to buff white with pale brown apices, and the scales dorsad of the brown streak are pale yellow. A few buff tipped scales are found on the outer margin. The hindwings are fuscous, with the veins slightly darker.