Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873
Rhyacionia neomexicana
This record describes Rhyacionia neomexicana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Evetria neomexicana Dyar, is available online in the print references below. There are many online references with information on the pest status of Rhyacionia neomexicana .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Rhyacionia (Pine Tip Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Northern Arizona and New Mexico, north to Montana and southwestern North Dakota. , Type locality: Las Vegas, New Mexico ( Cockerell ).
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly March to May in the south (Jennings 1975) ; June in the north (Keen 1952). ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latinized "New Mexico" for the type location.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rhyacionia neomexicana. 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 Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873
What is Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873?
Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873 (Rhyacionia neomexicana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873?
Forewing length: ♂ 12.5-13.5 mm. ♀ 8.5-10 mm.
How do you identify Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873?
The original description as Evetria neomexicana Dyar, is available online in the print references below.
Where is Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873 found?
Range: Northern Arizona and New Mexico, north to Montana and southwestern North Dakota. , Type locality: Las Vegas, New Mexico ( Cockerell ).
What does Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873 eat?
The diet of the Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873 includes Larval host is Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine)..
When is Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873 active?
Southwestern Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2873: seasonal activity - The adults fly March to May in the south (Jennings 1975) ; June in the north (Keen 1952). ,.