Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220
Sonia vovana
This record describes Sonia vovana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Kearfott original description is available in Print References. Busck description as Hendecaneura fraternana is available online in the Print References. ID confirmed by Chuck Harp.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Sonia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Holotype collected USA, Utah, Stockton (Tom Spalding ). Other specimens examined: Bear Creek, Morrison, CO (E.J. Oslar ); Yuma County, AZ (J.B. Smith , March 26th); Glenwood Springs, CO (Dr. Barnes , Aug,. 24th); Amarillo, TX ( Cockerell , Aug,. 30th).
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are from June through October. ( 5 ) , ( 8 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2006) reared them from the roots of: ( 9 ) , ( 10 ) Gutierrezia Lag. (snakeweed) Isocoma Nutt. (goldenbush)
Life History
Larvae feed in the roots of the hostplant. ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is part of a series of Kearfott names originating from various alphabetical rhyming schemes with no meaning, often derided by subsequent authors as "nonsense names." See Brown (2001) for a humorous take on this "barbarous" practice. ( 4 ) , ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sonia vovana. 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 Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220
What is Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220?
Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220 (Sonia vovana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220?
Forewing length 7.5-12 mm. ( 5 )
How do you identify Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220?
Kearfott original description is available in Print References. Busck description as Hendecaneura fraternana is available online in the Print References. ID confirmed by Chuck Harp.
Where is Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220 found?
Range: California to Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Holotype collected USA, Utah, Stockton (Tom Spalding ). Other specimens examined: Bear Creek, Morrison, CO (E.J. Oslar ); Yuma County, AZ (J.B. Smith , March 26th); Glenwood Springs, CO (Dr. Barnes , Aug,. 24th); Amarillo, TX ( Cockerell , Aug,. 30th).
What does Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220 eat?
The diet of the Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220 includes Powell & Opler (2006) reared them from the roots of: ( 9 ) , ( 10 ) Gutierrezia Lag. (snakeweed) Isocoma Nutt. (goldenbush).
When is Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220 active?
Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are from June through October. ( 5 ) , ( 8 ).
What is the life cycle of a Sonia vovana - Hodges#3220?
Larvae feed in the roots of the hostplant. ( 5 )