Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235
Proteoteras moffatiana
This record describes Proteoteras moffatiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - When fresh, it is immediately distinguishable from most other members of the Tortricidae family by its green forewings [Lynn Scott]. An irregular blackish line begins about mid-way along costa and extends in an arc to a point near but not reaching the apex; blackish streaks or smudges extend from base to a raised bump of scales in antemedial area; distal half of costa marked by short streaks of green, dark gray, and whitish; hindwing brownish-gray, paler toward base; thorax has green bump of raised scales posteriorly.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Proteoteras
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas and at least Wisconsin and Ontario. Described material: London, Ontario (Moffat); Lancaster, NY (Oct. 22 1880); Milford, NH ( Whitney , June 28, 1870).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed inside the buds of Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum ) and other maple species.
Life History
Overwinters as a larva in bud of maple tree.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named for J. Alston Moffat , curator of the Entomological Society of London, Ontario in the late 1800s.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Proteoteras moffatiana. 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 Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Nick Block , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235
What is Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235?
Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235 (Proteoteras moffatiana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235?
Wingspan 14-20 mm.
How do you identify Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235?
Adult - When fresh, it is immediately distinguishable from most other members of the Tortricidae family by its green forewings [Lynn Scott]. An irregular blackish line begins about mid-way along costa and extends in an arc to a point near but not reaching the apex; blackish streaks or smudges extend from base to a raised bump of scales in antemedial area; distal half of costa marked by short streaks of green, dark gray, and whitish; hindwing brownish-gray, paler toward base; thorax has green bump of raised scales posteriorly.
Where is Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas and at least Wisconsin and Ontario. Described material: London, Ontario (Moffat); Lancaster, NY (Oct. 22 1880); Milford, NH ( Whitney , June 28, 1870).
What does Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235 eat?
The diet of the Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235 includes Larvae feed inside the buds of Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum ) and other maple species..
What is the life cycle of a Gray-flanked Proteoteras - Hodges#3235?
Overwinters as a larva in bud of maple tree.