Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587
Siskiwitia alticolans
This record describes Siskiwitia alticolans (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Alticolans is unique among the Chrysopeleiinae in having the dark brown forewing overlaid with shining yellow to gold scales and in having a transverse white band at 2/3 the length.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chrysopeleiinae
- Genus
- Siskiwitia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Type locality: Bog Springs Campground, Madera Canyon, 5100', Santa Rita Mts., Santa Cruz Co., AZ BugGuide data : Gila National Forest, Catron Co., NM
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Siskiwitia alticolans. 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 Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt; Additional contributions by Edward Ruden
Frequently Asked Questions About Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587
What is Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587?
Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587 (Siskiwitia alticolans) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587?
Alticolans is unique among the Chrysopeleiinae in having the dark brown forewing overlaid with shining yellow to gold scales and in having a transverse white band at 2/3 the length.
Where is Siskiwitia alticolans - Hodges#1587 found?
Range: Type locality: Bog Springs Campground, Madera Canyon, 5100', Santa Rita Mts., Santa Cruz Co., AZ BugGuide data : Gila National Forest, Catron Co., NM