Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722
Theisoa constrictella
This record describes Theisoa constrictella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing slender, lance-shaped; basal third brown, edged in black distally; remainder of wing paler brown with yellowish AM line and blackish triangle half-way along costa, bordered distally by a yellowish wedge; black discal dot near middle of wing; hindwing consists of a spike-like midrib with very long fringe of pale hair-like scales; thorax brown; base of abdomen pale yellow; remainder of abdomen dark gray to blackish, sometimes with pale yellow tip
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anomologinae
- Genus
- Theisoa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southeastern United States: Texas to Florida, north to Maryland and Kentucky
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in spring (May in Maryland)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The HOSTS website gives the host plant as being various species of Ulmus (elm).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Theisoa constrictella. 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 Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Ken Childs , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722
What is Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722?
Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722 (Theisoa constrictella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722?
Size compared to Perispasta caeculalis :
How do you identify Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722?
Adult: forewing slender, lance-shaped; basal third brown, edged in black distally; remainder of wing paler brown with yellowish AM line and blackish triangle half-way along costa, bordered distally by a yellowish wedge; black discal dot near middle of wing; hindwing consists of a spike-like midrib with very long fringe of pale hair-like scales; thorax brown; base of abdomen pale yellow; remainder of abdomen dark gray to blackish, sometimes with pale yellow tip
Where is Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722 found?
Range: southeastern United States: Texas to Florida, north to Maryland and Kentucky
What does Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722 eat?
The diet of the Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722 includes The HOSTS website gives the host plant as being various species of Ulmus (elm)..
When is Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722 active?
Theisoa constrictella - Hodges#1722: seasonal activity - adults fly in spring (May in Maryland).