Clover Hayworm Moth
Hypsopygia costalis
This record describes Hypsopygia costalis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Hypsopygia costalis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsopygia costalis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyralinae
- Tribe
- Pyralini
- Genus
- Hypsopygia (Hayworms)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Species is found in gardens, woodlands and farmland.
Seasonal Activity
The nocturnal adults fly in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in dry vegetable matter, such as haystacks and thatch.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reasonably common in the southern half of Britain at least. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypsopygia costalis. 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 Clover Hayworm Moth (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Clover Hayworm Moth
How big is Clover Hayworm Moth?
13mm to 19mm (0.51" to 0.74")
Where is Clover Hayworm Moth found?
Habitat: Species is found in gardens, woodlands and farmland.
When is Clover Hayworm Moth active?
Clover Hayworm Moth: seasonal activity - The nocturnal adults fly in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Clover Hayworm Moth?
The larvae feed in dry vegetable matter, such as haystacks and thatch.