Theisoa multifasciella - Hodges#1723
Theisoa multifasciella
This record describes Theisoa multifasciella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | Brownish yellow, becoming paler on the face around the mouth. Palpi externally brown, internal surface white. Antennae alternately brown and silvery white. |
| Thorax | Upper surface brownish red. Wings : Basal area brownish red. The forewings are banded with alternate wide fasciae of white and brownish red, the brownish red fasciae being margined rather narrowly behind with dark brown. Including the brownish red on the base of the wings, there are four fasciae of that hue and three white ones and the tip of the wing is also white. Hind wings and ciliae of the forewings pale grayish fuscous. |
| Abdomen | Brown, the tip and posterior margin of each segment being white. Under surface of the wings : Dull brown, that of the hindwings shining grayish fuscous. Legs and tarsi : With alternate annulations of white and shining dark brown. |
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
Recorded from Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Theisoa multifasciella. 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 multifasciella - Hodges#1723 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Theisoa multifasciella - Hodges#1723
What is Theisoa multifasciella - Hodges#1723?
Theisoa multifasciella - Hodges#1723 (Theisoa multifasciella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Theisoa multifasciella - Hodges#1723?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | Brownish yellow, becoming paler on the face around the mouth. Palpi externally brown, internal surface white. Antennae alternately brown and silvery white. |
| Thorax | Upper surface brownish red. Wings : Basal area brownish red. The forewings are banded with alternate wide fasciae of white and brownish red, the brownish red fasciae being margined rather narrowly behind with dark brown. Including the brownish red on the base of the wings, there are four fasciae of that hue and three white ones and the tip of the wing is also white. Hind wings and ciliae of the forewings pale grayish fuscous. |
| Abdomen | Brown, the tip and posterior margin of each segment being white. Under surface of the wings : Dull brown, that of the hindwings shining grayish fuscous. Legs and tarsi : With alternate annulations of white and shining dark brown. |
Where is Theisoa multifasciella - Hodges#1723 found?
Range: Recorded from Texas.