Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725
Stereomita andropogonis
This record describes Stereomita andropogonis (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description of Stereomita andropogonis Braun, is available online in the print references below. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Genitalia: Adults fly at dawn and dusk. ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anomologinae
- Genus
- Stereomita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern North America. Originally described from a Clermont County, Ohio specimen.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on flowers of Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem). ( 4 ) The adults are usually found among the host plant flowers in the morning and evening.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stereomita andropogonis. 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 Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725
What is Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725?
Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725 (Stereomita andropogonis) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725?
Wingspan 8.5-9.5 mm. (Braun)
How do you identify Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725?
The original description of Stereomita andropogonis Braun, is available online in the print references below. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Genitalia:
Where is Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725 found?
Range: Eastern North America. Originally described from a Clermont County, Ohio specimen.
What does Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725 eat?
The diet of the Stereomita andropogonis - Hodges#1725 includes Larvae feed on flowers of Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem). ( 4 ) The adults are usually found among the host plant flowers in the morning and evening..