Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902
Prolita variabilis
This record describes Prolita variabilis (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing has variable color and markings.
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
Plains provinces of Canada, the Great Basin south to northern Arizona and southeastern California; the New England area. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from August to October. (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Comstock reports larvae on Ericameria linearifolia (DC.) Urbatsch & Wussow [ Stenotopsis linearifolius ] (narrowleaf goldenbush). Powell & Opler reports larval host is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Prolita variabilis. 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 variabilis - Hodges#1902 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902
What is Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902?
Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902 (Prolita variabilis) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902?
Forewing length 7-10 mm.
How do you identify Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902?
Forewing has variable color and markings.
Where is Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902 found?
Range: Plains provinces of Canada, the Great Basin south to northern Arizona and southeastern California; the New England area. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902 eat?
The diet of the Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902 includes Comstock reports larvae on Ericameria linearifolia (DC.) Urbatsch & Wussow [ Stenotopsis linearifolius ] (narrowleaf goldenbush). Powell & Opler reports larval host is unknown..
When is Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902 active?
Prolita variabilis - Hodges#1902: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from August to October. (MPG).