Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027
Rectiostoma fernaldella
This record describes Rectiostoma fernaldella (species). Recorded family: Stenomatidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Setiostoma fernaldella Riley, is available online in the print references below. Day flier (diurnal) , yet rarely seen.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Stenomatidae
- Genus
- Rectiostoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in foothill regions to mid-elevations.
Geographic Range
Southern California to southern Arizona to southern Mexico. , , , Tennessee ? Holotype ♀, California, Los Angeles County, in July (no year). Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear to be most common from January to July, and September to October. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: Quercus spp. (oak) Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehder (tanoak)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of entomologist Charles H. Fernald (1838-1921).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rectiostoma fernaldella. 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 Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027
What is Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027?
Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027 (Rectiostoma fernaldella) is a species in the family Stenomatidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027?
Forewing length 5-6.5 mm. ,
How do you identify Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027?
The original description as Setiostoma fernaldella Riley, is available online in the print references below.
Where is Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Found in foothill regions to mid-elevations. |
| Range | Southern California to southern Arizona to southern Mexico. , , , Tennessee ? Holotype ♀, California, Los Angeles County, in July (no year). Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027 eat?
The diet of the Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027 includes Larval hosts include: Quercus spp. (oak) Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehder (tanoak).
When is Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027 active?
Rectiostoma fernaldella - Hodges#1027: seasonal activity - The adults appear to be most common from January to July, and September to October. ( 4 ).