Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260
Sitotroga cerealella
This record describes Sitotroga cerealella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larvae drill mines in grain, causing as much as 50% of weight loss. They break the skin of seed creating the opportunity for other infestations.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Apatetrinae
- Tribe
- Pexicopiini
- Genus
- Sitotroga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nearly cosmopolitan.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Dried foods such as stored cereals. Non-native, probably from Europe.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier, 1789) * phylogenetic sequence #069425
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sitotroga cerealella. 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 Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260
What is Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260?
Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260 (Sitotroga cerealella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260?
Forewing length 6-8 mm.
Where is Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260 found?
Range: Nearly cosmopolitan.
What does Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260 eat?
The diet of the Angoumois Grain Moth - Hodges#2260 includes Dried foods such as stored cereals. Non-native, probably from Europe..