Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901
Tacoma feriella
This record describes Tacoma feriella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Expands 20 mm. Palpi gray, white beneath ; head and thorax dark gray with a bluish shade; abdomen fuscous gray, interlined with light gray; fore wings dark gray with a bluish shade; lines whitish, the inner nearly at middle, angulate, the outer waved and dentate, subparallel with outer margin; on inner margin just beyond basal line is a rather large broken white spot ; discal spot faint with outer edge whitish; a marginal line of black points ; hind wings fuscous, a black marginal line. - Texas. - Hulst (1888).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Tacoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California to central Texas. MPG records indicate that it ranges into northern California.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Dammers reared them on "mistletoe" in California. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tacoma feriella. 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 Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901
What is Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901?
Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901 (Tacoma feriella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 7-10 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 15-20 mm. |
How do you identify Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901?
Expands 20 mm. Palpi gray, white beneath ; head and thorax dark gray with a bluish shade; abdomen fuscous gray, interlined with light gray; fore wings dark gray with a bluish shade; lines whitish, the inner nearly at middle, angulate, the outer waved and dentate, subparallel with outer margin; on inner margin just beyond basal line is a rather large broken white spot ; discal spot faint with outer edge whitish; a marginal line of black points ; hind wings fuscous, a black marginal line. - Texas. - Hulst (1888).
Where is Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901 found?
Range: Southern California to central Texas. MPG records indicate that it ranges into northern California.
What does Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901 eat?
The diet of the Tacoma feriella - Hodges#5901 includes Dammers reared them on mistletoe in California. ,.