Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714
Sparganothis senecionana
This record describes Sparganothis senecionana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References. Powell & Opler describe the following variations, noting that most populations have a pale gray hindwing with some specimens of both sexes having an entirely rust colored forewing: Typical Form (North Coast Ranges of California) - males golden with distinct rust to rust brown pattern. Females usually darker with obscured markings. Sierra Nevada West Slope - like typical form with more extensive rust scaling. Sierra Nevada above the timberline - much darker, brownish gray with dark brown markings. Hindwing dark gray. Beach Populations - white with well-defined dark blood-red markings. Interior Ventura County - white with narrow pale rust markings.
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
Habitat
Widespread in the west, absent from deserts.
Geographic Range
Powell & Opler gives the range in the west as British Columbia to Baja California, also Alberta to Colorado to Arizona. Moth Photographers Group shows eastern records from Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Syntypes (3 ♂ , 2 ♀) : California, Lake County to Mount Shasta, June 20th to August 6th (Walsingham); southern Oregon, larva taken on Senecio in May (Walsingham).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae often feed on flowers and are incredibly polyphagous, including toxic plants avoided by many generalists, and occasionally even conifers.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the host plant genus ( Senecio ) it was first reared on.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sparganothis senecionana. 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 senecionana - Hodges#3714 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Brad Barnd; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714
What is Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714?
Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714 (Sparganothis senecionana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 16-19 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 7.5-12.5 mm. |
How do you identify Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714?
Adult - see original description in Print References. Powell & Opler describe the following variations, noting that most populations have a pale gray hindwing with some specimens of both sexes having an entirely rust colored forewing: Typical Form (North Coast Ranges of California) - males golden with distinct rust to rust brown pattern. Females usually darker with obscured markings. Sierra Nevada West Slope - like typical form with more extensive rust scaling. Sierra Nevada above the timberline - much darker, brownish gray with dark brown markings. Hindwing dark gray. Beach Populations - white with well-defined dark blood-red markings. Interior Ventura County - white with narrow pale rust markings.
Where is Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Widespread in the west, absent from deserts. |
| Range | Powell & Opler gives the range in the west as British Columbia to Baja California, also Alberta to Colorado to Arizona. Moth Photographers Group shows eastern records from Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Syntypes (3 ♂ , 2 ♀) : California, Lake County to Mount Shasta, June 20th to August 6th (Walsingham); southern Oregon, larva taken on Senecio in May (Walsingham). |
What does Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714 eat?
The diet of the Sparganothis senecionana - Hodges#3714 includes Larvae often feed on flowers and are incredibly polyphagous, including toxic plants avoided by many generalists, and occasionally even conifers..