Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524
Triclonella pergandeella
This record describes Triclonella pergandeella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Busck (1901) description, in full grown larvae the head is yellow with a black spot on top and one over each eye; body is black with sparse, short white hairs and various yellow spots and smaller dots, anterior black; earlier instars are more yellow and generally lighter colored.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cosmopteriginae
- Genus
- Triclonella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern United States. Moth Photographers group displays a Arizona record?
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is March to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Leaf skeletonizer of: • "common tick-trefoil, Meibomia (Desmodium) dillenii " (sometimes considered a variety of D. paniculatum ) - Busck (1901). • Lespedeza , Clitoria - Hodges (1978).
Life History
Busck (1901) reported the eggs laid singly on underside of host leaf. Larva ties two leaves together forming a shelter from which it feeds. Prepupating larvae tie a third leaf, enlarging the shelter. Overwinters as adult.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Busck (1901) named the species "in honor of [his] friend and teacher Mr. [Thomas] Pergande."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Triclonella pergandeella. 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 Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Abigail Parker; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524
What is Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524?
Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524 (Triclonella pergandeella) is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524?
Busck (1901) reported the wingspan 14 mm. and the larvae to 12 mm.
How do you identify Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524?
Busck (1901) description, in full grown larvae the head is yellow with a black spot on top and one over each eye; body is black with sparse, short white hairs and various yellow spots and smaller dots, anterior black; earlier instars are more yellow and generally lighter colored.
Where is Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524 found?
Range: Southeastern United States. Moth Photographers group displays a Arizona record?
What does Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524 eat?
The diet of the Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524 includes Leaf skeletonizer of: • common tick-trefoil, Meibomia (Desmodium) dillenii (sometimes considered a variety of D. paniculatum ) - Busck (1901). • Lespedeza , Clitoria - Hodges (1978)..
When is Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524 active?
Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524: seasonal activity - The main flight period is March to October..
What is the life cycle of a Triclonella pergandeella - Hodges#1524?
Busck (1901) reported the eggs laid singly on underside of host leaf. Larva ties two leaves together forming a shelter from which it feeds. Prepupating larvae tie a third leaf, enlarging the shelter. Overwinters as adult.