Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769
Pseudosciaphila duplex
This record describes Pseudosciaphila duplex (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing of typical form resembles a bird dropping -- dark gray in basal, medial, and terminal areas, and whitish in antemedial (AM) and postmedial (PM) areas; dark medial patch is widest at inner margin, tapering with irregular edges to a blunt point at costa; short black marks along distal half of costa; small black patch at apex; some individuals have a mostly dark brown forewing, and others have a mostly light brown forewing; hindwing in all forms dark gray with pale fringe. ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Pseudosciaphila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Northern United States and southern Canada: Quebec and New England to northern California and British Columbia. Type locality: Loveland, Colorado.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), rarely birch, plum or willow. ( 4 ) , ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin meaning "twofold, double" but it's unclear from the description what it refers to.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudosciaphila duplex. 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 Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769
What is Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769?
Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769 (Pseudosciaphila duplex) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769?
Wingspan 18-27 mm. , Forewing length 10-13 mm.
How do you identify Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769?
Adult - forewing of typical form resembles a bird dropping -- dark gray in basal, medial, and terminal areas, and whitish in antemedial (AM) and postmedial (PM) areas; dark medial patch is widest at inner margin, tapering with irregular edges to a blunt point at costa; short black marks along distal half of costa; small black patch at apex; some individuals have a mostly dark brown forewing, and others have a mostly light brown forewing; hindwing in all forms dark gray with pale fringe. ( 3 )
Where is Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769 found?
Range: Northern United States and southern Canada: Quebec and New England to northern California and British Columbia. Type locality: Loveland, Colorado.
What does Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769 eat?
The diet of the Poplar Leafroller - Hodges#2769 includes Larvae feed on leaves of quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), rarely birch, plum or willow. ( 4 ) , ( 3 ).