Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894
Retinia metallica
This record describes Retinia metallica (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Evetria metallica Busck, 1914 is available online in the print references below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Retinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California, Arizona, and Colorado to Yukon Territory. , , Holotype was collected in Missoula, Montana (Josef Brunner ). Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been recorded from February to July, but are most common from late May to early June. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on the terminal growth of pine species including: Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon (lodgepole pine). Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson (ponderosa pine).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet metallica from the author's original description of "metallic scales" on the forewings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Retinia metallica. 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 Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894
What is Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894?
Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894 (Retinia metallica) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894?
Forewing length 6.5-9 mm. , Wingspan about 20 mm.
How do you identify Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894?
The original description as Evetria metallica Busck, 1914 is available online in the print references below.
Where is Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894 found?
Range: California, Arizona, and Colorado to Yukon Territory. , , Holotype was collected in Missoula, Montana (Josef Brunner ). Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894 eat?
The diet of the Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894 includes The larvae feed on the terminal growth of pine species including: Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon (lodgepole pine). Pinus ponderosa Lawson & C. Lawson (ponderosa pine)..
When is Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894 active?
Retinia metallica - Hodges#2894: seasonal activity - Adults have been recorded from February to July, but are most common from late May to early June. ,.