Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895
Prolita puertella
This record describes Prolita puertella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available online as Gelechia puertella Busck.
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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Scattered records from Montana to Baja California. ( 4 ) , ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Type locality: USA: California, San Diego Co., La Puerta.
Seasonal Activity
August to October records. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name for type location. (La Puerta)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Prolita puertella. 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 puertella - Hodges#1895 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by James Bailey
Frequently Asked Questions About Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895
What is Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895?
Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895 (Prolita puertella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895?
Wingspan 18-20 mm.
How do you identify Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895?
The original description is available online as Gelechia puertella Busck.
Where is Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895 found?
Range: Scattered records from Montana to Baja California. ( 4 ) , ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Type locality: USA: California, San Diego Co., La Puerta.
When is Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895 active?
Prolita puertella - Hodges#1895: seasonal activity - August to October records. ( 3 ).