Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308
Scardiella approximatella
This record describes Scardiella approximatella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | Dark yellowish, long haired (scaled). Palpi long, folded; pale yellow, brown and tufted on underside. Antenna: About half as long as wing, slender. Ringed brown and yellow. |
| Thorax | Pale yellow, sides brownish. Wings: Slightly rounded, almost squarish at tips. Dark brown with pale lace-like yellowish marks. Inner margin edge pale yellowish with three triangles – 1 at base, one just before mid-wing and 1 at anal angle. Transverse, wide dark brown stripe extends to costal margin at mid-wing. Costal margin has long yellowish patch along base. Outer half of the wing is variable in amount of pale yellowish lace-like marks. Fringe checkered, short; double brown interrupted line through fringe. Hindwings wide, pale gray; one or two costal dots; fringe same color with brown double line through. |
| Legs | All segments brown with yellowish tips. Long spurs. |
| Abdomen | Yellowish-brown. Genitalia: Types: Paralectotypes (8) Scardiella approximatella by Dietz, 1905. MCZ #2889. Locality: New Jersey, Pennsylvania. In Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Paralectotype male and female designated by Robinson in 1986 in United States National Museum, Smithsonian, Washington, D. C. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
- Subfamily
- Scardiinae
- Genus
- Scardiella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
U.S. east of Mississippi; Ontario to east coast.
Seasonal Activity
May to August
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Debris, fungus, rotting animal and vegetable matter.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Dietz, 1905
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scardiella approximatella. 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 Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by lee_penner , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308
What is Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308?
Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308 (Scardiella approximatella) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308?
7 to 8 mm long. Wingspan 13 to 17 mm.
How do you identify Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | Dark yellowish, long haired (scaled). Palpi long, folded; pale yellow, brown and tufted on underside. Antenna: About half as long as wing, slender. Ringed brown and yellow. |
| Thorax | Pale yellow, sides brownish. Wings: Slightly rounded, almost squarish at tips. Dark brown with pale lace-like yellowish marks. Inner margin edge pale yellowish with three triangles – 1 at base, one just before mid-wing and 1 at anal angle. Transverse, wide dark brown stripe extends to costal margin at mid-wing. Costal margin has long yellowish patch along base. Outer half of the wing is variable in amount of pale yellowish lace-like marks. Fringe checkered, short; double brown interrupted line through fringe. Hindwings wide, pale gray; one or two costal dots; fringe same color with brown double line through. |
| Legs | All segments brown with yellowish tips. Long spurs. |
| Abdomen | Yellowish-brown. Genitalia: |
Where is Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308 found?
Range: U.S. east of Mississippi; Ontario to east coast.
When is Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308 active?
Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308: seasonal activity - May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Scardiella approximatella - Hodges#0308?
Debris, fungus, rotting animal and vegetable matter.