LepidopteraGelechiidae – Twirler Moths

Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022

Scrobipalpula sacculicola

This record describes Scrobipalpula sacculicola (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 - Scrobipalpula sacculicola
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Gelechioidea
Family
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
Subfamily
Gelechiinae
Tribe
Gnorimoschemini
Genus
Scrobipalpula

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Scattered records throughout much of eastern North America. There is also a Colorado record. (BOLD) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Leaf miner of goldenrod ( Solidago ) (Braun 1925)

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scrobipalpula sacculicola. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 (5)

Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Frequently Asked Questions About Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022

What is Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022?

Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 (Scrobipalpula sacculicola) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022?

12-12.5 mm (Braun 1925)

How do you identify Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022?

Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).

Where is Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 found?

Range: Scattered records throughout much of eastern North America. There is also a Colorado record. (BOLD) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.

What does Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 eat?

The diet of the Scrobipalpula sacculicola - Hodges#2022 includes Leaf miner of goldenrod ( Solidago ) (Braun 1925).

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.