Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704
Sparganothis distincta
This record describes Sparganothis distincta (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Sparganothini
- Genus
- Sparganothis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from Kansas, Ohio northeast to Maine and New Brunswick, south to Florida, west to Texas, Arizona and Utah. , , , Type locality: Arizona.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are leaftiers of goldenrods ( Solidago ). ( 6 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet means "distinct," for its resemblance to Cenopis directana (Walker, 1863) "whilst it differs in the absence of an oblique fascia and of other dark markings beyond it."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sparganothis distincta. 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 Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704
How big is Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704?
Wingspan 22-23 mm.
Where is Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704 found?
Range: Records from Kansas, Ohio northeast to Maine and New Brunswick, south to Florida, west to Texas, Arizona and Utah. , , , Type locality: Arizona.
What does Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704 eat?
The diet of the Sparganothis distincta - Hodges#3704 includes Larvae are leaftiers of goldenrods ( Solidago ). ( 6 ).