Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253
Strobisia iridipennella
This record describes Strobisia iridipennella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing slender, dark brown to blackish with three iridescent blue streaks evenly-spaced along costa (and projecting at right-angles toward middle of wing); another blue steak in basal area, and three blue spots in median area; subterminal area with three pale but faint whitish patches; hindwing dark gray to blackish, either unmarked or with a few whitish dots in median area; legs banded black and white; remainder of body dark gray to blackish.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anacampsinae
- Tribe
- Anacampsini
- Genus
- Strobisia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern United States: New York to Florida, west to Texas and Illinois.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "iridescent wings."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Strobisia iridipennella. 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 Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253
What is Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253?
Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253 (Strobisia iridipennella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253?
Wingspan about 10 mm.
How do you identify Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253?
Adult: forewing slender, dark brown to blackish with three iridescent blue streaks evenly-spaced along costa (and projecting at right-angles toward middle of wing); another blue steak in basal area, and three blue spots in median area; subterminal area with three pale but faint whitish patches; hindwing dark gray to blackish, either unmarked or with a few whitish dots in median area; legs banded black and white; remainder of body dark gray to blackish.
Where is Strobisia iridipennella - Hodges#2253 found?
Range: Eastern United States: New York to Florida, west to Texas and Illinois.