Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258
Pseudexentera virginiana
This record describes Pseudexentera virginiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing light brownish-gray with dark speckling and large dark brown to black semicircular patch half-way along costa; basal area slightly darker than remainder of wing; hindwing gray with white fringe.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Pseudexentera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Connecticut and Michigan, south to Florida and Mississippi. Type locality: Virginia.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the type locality.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudexentera virginiana. 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 Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258
What is Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258?
Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258 (Pseudexentera virginiana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan about 18-19 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 7.5-9.5 mm. |
How do you identify Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258?
Adult - forewing light brownish-gray with dark speckling and large dark brown to black semicircular patch half-way along costa; basal area slightly darker than remainder of wing; hindwing gray with white fringe.
Where is Pseudexentera virginiana - Hodges#3258 found?
Range: Connecticut and Michigan, south to Florida and Mississippi. Type locality: Virginia.