Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541
Acallis griphalis
This record describes Acallis griphalis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Photo determined by Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey). Many of the images here were previously misidentified as Aglossa electalis .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chrysauginae
- Genus
- Acallis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Texas , north through Colorado to British Columbia. Described from Colorado and Texas specimens. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is May to September.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Acallis griphalis (Hulst, 1886) was originally misspelled as gripalis in Hulst (1886) p. 146 but the spelling was corrected in the same work on p. xxiv so the correction stands.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acallis griphalis. 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 Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541
What is Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541?
Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541 (Acallis griphalis) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541?
Hulst (1879) reported the wingspan as 20-26 mm.
How do you identify Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541?
Photo determined by Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey).
Where is Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541 found?
Range: California to Texas , north through Colorado to British Columbia. Described from Colorado and Texas specimens. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
When is Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541 active?
Acallis griphalis - Hodges#5541: seasonal activity - The main flight period is May to September..