Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1
Tinacrucis noroesta
This record describes Tinacrucis noroesta (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - the largest tortricid in North America north of Mexico. Males with sinuate costa, rust, tan and yellow forewings with a pattern resembling a skeletonized dead leaf. Females less sinuate costa, nearly uniform milk chocolate brown, fresh specimens showing faint transverse, dark and pale bands and white clouding on the costal area.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Atteriini
- Genus
- Tinacrucis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
From 7800-9300' elevation.
Geographic Range
Known from the mountains of southern Arizona and Durango, Mexico.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Spanish noroeste meaning "northwest." Powell & Opler describes this species as the most northwesterly species of Tinacrucis , a Mexican and Central American genus.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tinacrucis noroesta. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1
What is Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1?
Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1 (Tinacrucis noroesta) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1?
Forewing length: males 14.5-16.5 mm, females 17-20 mm.
How do you identify Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1?
Adult - the largest tortricid in North America north of Mexico. Males with sinuate costa, rust, tan and yellow forewings with a pattern resembling a skeletonized dead leaf. Females less sinuate costa, nearly uniform milk chocolate brown, fresh specimens showing faint transverse, dark and pale bands and white clouding on the costal area.
Where is Tinacrucis noroesta - Hodges#3564.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | From 7800-9300' elevation. |
| Range | Known from the mountains of southern Arizona and Durango, Mexico. |