Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399
Agriphila ruricolellus
This record describes Agriphila ruricolellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale yellowish with reddish-brown speckling between veins, giving a streaked appearance to the wing; median line represented by a diagonal smear or diffuse smudge (sometimes faint) across veins; subterminal (ST) line indistinct and incomplete but usually visible; terminal line composed of seven black evenly-spaced dots; fringe scales gold or silvery, usually with black base.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Agriphila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grasslands, weedy areas, fields, cultivated land.
Geographic Range
Quebec and Maine to South Carolina, west to Arizona, north to Alberta.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from July to September. Brimley lists for August in North Carolina mountains.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on grasses and Common Sheep Sorrel ( Rumex acetosella ).
Life History
One generation per year; overwinters as an immature larva.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agriphila ruricolellus. 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 Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399
What is Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399?
Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399 (Agriphila ruricolellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399?
Wingspan 17-20 mm.
How do you identify Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399?
Adult: forewing pale yellowish with reddish-brown speckling between veins, giving a streaked appearance to the wing; median line represented by a diagonal smear or diffuse smudge (sometimes faint) across veins; subterminal (ST) line indistinct and incomplete but usually visible; terminal line composed of seven black evenly-spaced dots; fringe scales gold or silvery, usually with black base.
Where is Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grasslands, weedy areas, fields, cultivated land. |
| Range | Quebec and Maine to South Carolina, west to Arizona, north to Alberta. |
What does Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399 eat?
The diet of the Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399 includes Larvae feed on grasses and Common Sheep Sorrel ( Rumex acetosella )..
When is Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399 active?
Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399: seasonal activity - Adults fly from July to September. Brimley lists for August in North Carolina mountains..
What is the life cycle of a Lesser Vagabond Sod Webworm - Hodges#5399?
One generation per year; overwinters as an immature larva.