LepidopteraPyralidae – Pyralid Moths

Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695

Acrobasis caliginella

This record describes Acrobasis caliginella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 - Acrobasis caliginella
Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Pyraloidea
Family
Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
Subfamily
Phycitinae
Tribe
Phycitini
Genus
Acrobasis

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Heinrich and Powell & Opler reported California and Arizona. Moth Photographers Group displays a record from Oregon.

Seasonal Activity

Heinrich reported the main flight period May to August.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Heinrich reported scrub oak.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrobasis caliginella. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 (2)

Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 - photo 1
Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 - photo 2
Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Photo credits: Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Frequently Asked Questions About Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695

Where is Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 found?

Range: Heinrich and Powell & Opler reported California and Arizona. Moth Photographers Group displays a record from Oregon.

What does Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 eat?

The diet of the Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 includes Heinrich reported scrub oak..

When is Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695 active?

Acrobasis caliginella - Hodges#5695: seasonal activity - Heinrich reported the main flight period May to August..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.