Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869
Rhyacionia subtropica
This record describes Rhyacionia subtropica (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description of Rhyacionia subtropica Miller, is available online in PDF. - A variable species that can be difficult to distinguish from Rhyacionia rigidana where the ranges overlap. Forewing costa is brown with 10-12 white spots along the length. Rust brown patch at apex. Terminal line is brown and subterminal line is white. V or Y shaped rusty brown patch along costa about 1/3 distance from apex. Larvae of Rhyacionia subtropica and R. rigidana can not be distinguished.
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
Mississippi to Florida and South Carolina. , , , There is some overlap with the range of Rhyacionia rigidana along the northern line. Cuba; British Honduras Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Three flights of December to March, May to August and September to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Pinus L. sp. , ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for this subtropical and "southernmost occurring pine tip moth."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rhyacionia subtropica. 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 Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869
What is Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869?
Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869 (Rhyacionia subtropica) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869?
Forewing length: ♂ 5-8 mm. ♀ 5.5-9.5 mm.
How do you identify Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869?
The original description of Rhyacionia subtropica Miller, is available online in PDF. - A variable species that can be difficult to distinguish from Rhyacionia rigidana where the ranges overlap. Forewing costa is brown with 10-12 white spots along the length. Rust brown patch at apex. Terminal line is brown and subterminal line is white. V or Y shaped rusty brown patch along costa about 1/3 distance from apex. Larvae of Rhyacionia subtropica and R. rigidana can not be distinguished.
Where is Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869 found?
Range: Mississippi to Florida and South Carolina. , , , There is some overlap with the range of Rhyacionia rigidana along the northern line. Cuba; British Honduras Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869 eat?
The diet of the Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869 includes Larval host is Pinus L. sp. , ,.
When is Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869 active?
Subtropical Pine Tip Moth - Hodges#2869: seasonal activity - Three flights of December to March, May to August and September to October..