Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642
Tebenna silphiella
This record describes Tebenna silphiella (species). Recorded family: Choreutidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brown in basal third and in terminal area; prominent swatch of color in distal third of wing composed of small black, white, and brown bands; subterminal line white, curving basally before reaching costa; remainder of wing covered with whitish spots and several white scale patches; hindwing brownish-gray with thick dark terminal line and long dark fringe
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Choreutoidea
- Family
- Choreutidae (Metalmark Moths)
- Subfamily
- Choreutinae
- Genus
- Tebenna
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
prairies and meadows containing the larval foodplant (rosinweed)
Geographic Range
Midwest United States (MI, WI, IL, IA, MO) BugGuide adds KY and AR
Seasonal Activity
larvae present in May and June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae skeletonize the leaves of Wholeleaf Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium)
Life History
two generations per year: early and late May
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tebenna silphiella. 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 Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by ceiseman , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642
What is Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642?
Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642 (Tebenna silphiella) is a species in the family Choreutidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642?
larva length to 12 mm
How do you identify Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642?
Adult: forewing brown in basal third and in terminal area; prominent swatch of color in distal third of wing composed of small black, white, and brown bands; subterminal line white, curving basally before reaching costa; remainder of wing covered with whitish spots and several white scale patches; hindwing brownish-gray with thick dark terminal line and long dark fringe
Where is Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | prairies and meadows containing the larval foodplant (rosinweed) |
| Range | Midwest United States (MI, WI, IL, IA, MO) BugGuide adds KY and AR |
What does Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642 eat?
The diet of the Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642 includes larvae skeletonize the leaves of Wholeleaf Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium).
When is Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642 active?
Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642: seasonal activity - larvae present in May and June.
What is the life cycle of a Rosinweed Moth - Hodges#2642?
two generations per year: early and late May