White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958
Anania funebris
This record describes Anania funebris (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing black with two large white spots and one tiny one; hindwing black with two large white spots; no tuft of orange hair-like scales on legs Almost always referred to by its scientific name, which is surprising because the moth occurs throughout Europe, where most moths have widely-used common names.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Anania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
fields, open areas; adults often visit flowers during the day
Geographic Range
mostly northern North America: Newfoundland to Northwest Territories, south in the west to Colorado and California, south in the east to North Carolina also occurs throughout Eurasia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on goldenrod ( Solidago spp.) and Dyer's Greenweed ( Genista tinctoria )
Life History
Larva light yellow-green, with yellowish head; living on the underside of the basal leaves of Solidago (Forbes 1923). Adults are diurnal.( U of Alberta Entomology Collection )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: FUNEBRIS: funereal - refers to the black or dark color SABLE: (adj.) black or dark
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anania funebris. 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 White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , metrioptera , Fyn Kynd
Frequently Asked Questions About White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958
What is White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958?
White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958 (Anania funebris) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958?
wingspan 18-22 mm
How do you identify White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958?
Adult: forewing black with two large white spots and one tiny one; hindwing black with two large white spots; no tuft of orange hair-like scales on legs
Where is White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, open areas; adults often visit flowers during the day |
| Range | mostly northern North America: Newfoundland to Northwest Territories, south in the west to Colorado and California, south in the east to North Carolina also occurs throughout Eurasia |
What does White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958 eat?
The diet of the White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958 includes larvae feed on goldenrod ( Solidago spp.) and Dyer's Greenweed ( Genista tinctoria ).
When is White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958 active?
White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to July.
What is the life cycle of a White-spotted Sable - Hodges#4958?
Larva light yellow-green, with yellowish head; living on the underside of the basal leaves of Solidago (Forbes 1923). Adults are diurnal.( U of Alberta Entomology Collection )