Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500
Pseudogalleria inimicella
This record describes Pseudogalleria inimicella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Grapholitini
- Genus
- Pseudogalleria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma, north to Indiana, Manatoba, and southern Ontario. , , Type Location: Dallas, Texas ( Boll ).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore below ground in the rootstocks of greenbriar ( Smilax , Smilacaceae), including smooth carrionflower ( Smilax herbacea ). ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet derived from Latin meaning "enemy, hostile."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudogalleria inimicella. 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 Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500
How big is Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500?
Wingspan 16.5-23 mm.
Where is Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500 found?
Range: Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma, north to Indiana, Manatoba, and southern Ontario. , , Type Location: Dallas, Texas ( Boll ).
What does Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500 eat?
The diet of the Inimical Borer Moth - Hodges#3500 includes Larvae bore below ground in the rootstocks of greenbriar ( Smilax , Smilacaceae), including smooth carrionflower ( Smilax herbacea ). ,.