Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931
Psorosina hammondi
This record describes Psorosina hammondi (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
♂ differs from ♀ in the basal portion of the antennae being curved, and the curve filled with a tuft of scales.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Psorosina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
From Connecticut, Ontario, and Iowa south to Kansas and Texas in the west, and North Carolina in the east. ( 3 ) .
Seasonal Activity
One to three generations per year, depending on latitude. In the south, "there appears to be a late May-June generation, a late July-August generation, and a late September-October generation" ( 3 ) .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hawthorn, cultivated apple, pear, quince, and beach plum ( 3 ) .
Life History
See Doerksen and Neunzig (1974) ( 3 ) for a detailed account of the life cycle.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Psorosina hammondi. 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 Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931
What is Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931?
Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931 (Psorosina hammondi) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931?
Wingspan: 11-15 mm .
How do you identify Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931?
♂ differs from ♀ in the basal portion of the antennae being curved, and the curve filled with a tuft of scales.
Where is Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931 found?
Range: From Connecticut, Ontario, and Iowa south to Kansas and Texas in the west, and North Carolina in the east. ( 3 ) .
What does Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931 eat?
The diet of the Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931 includes Hawthorn, cultivated apple, pear, quince, and beach plum ( 3 ) ..
When is Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931 active?
Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931: seasonal activity - One to three generations per year, depending on latitude. In the south, there appears to be a late May-June generation, a late July-August generation, and a late September-October generation ( 3 ) ..
What is the life cycle of a Appleleaf Skeletonizer - Hodges#5931?
See Doerksen and Neunzig (1974) ( 3 ) for a detailed account of the life cycle.