Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793
Alatuncusia bergii
This record describes Alatuncusia bergii (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Determined by Jim Vargo
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Alatuncusia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s TX, s. FL / W. Indies / Mex. to Venezuela - Map , , ,MPG Type locality: Puerto Rico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly July to December in Florida. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Capparis cynophallophora L. (Jamaican caper). ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Alatuncusia bergii. 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 Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793
How do you identify Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793?
Determined by Jim Vargo
Where is Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793 found?
Range: s TX, s. FL / W. Indies / Mex. to Venezuela - Map , , ,MPG Type locality: Puerto Rico.
What does Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793 eat?
The diet of the Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793 includes Larval host is Capparis cynophallophora L. (Jamaican caper). ,.
When is Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793 active?
Berg's Alatuncusia Moth - Hodges#4793: seasonal activity - Adults fly July to December in Florida. ,.