Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918
Ancylosis undulatella
This record describes Ancylosis undulatella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing narrow, light brown to grayish-brown with reddish-brown to black band in basal area above AM line; AM line zizag with two large points; PM line jagged with several small points; AM and PM lines not parallel, pale, outlined in black; median area unmarked except for two black dots near center; dark shading beyond PM line does not reach outer margin hindwing more than twice as broad as forewing, grayish-brown, with darker shading toward outer margin; fringe whitish or pale gray Genitalia: The larvae are considered a minor pest of sugarbeets, and usually cause minor damage.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Ancylosis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
commercial fields of sugarbeets; adults are attracted to light
Geographic Range
Ontario and Michigan to Florida, west to California, north to Oregon and Idaho wherever sugarbeets are grown
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from spring to fall
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves, leafstems, and crowns of sugarbeets
Life History
two generations per year; overwinters as a pupa in the soil; adults emerge in spring and lay eggs around sugarbeet crowns or on leaves and leafstems
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ancylosis undulatella. 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 Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918
What is Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918?
Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918 (Ancylosis undulatella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918?
wingspan 16-18 mm
How do you identify Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918?
Forewing narrow, light brown to grayish-brown with reddish-brown to black band in basal area above AM line; AM line zizag with two large points; PM line jagged with several small points; AM and PM lines not parallel, pale, outlined in black; median area unmarked except for two black dots near center; dark shading beyond PM line does not reach outer margin hindwing more than twice as broad as forewing, grayish-brown, with darker shading toward outer margin; fringe whitish or pale gray Genitalia:
Where is Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | commercial fields of sugarbeets; adults are attracted to light |
| Range | Ontario and Michigan to Florida, west to California, north to Oregon and Idaho wherever sugarbeets are grown |
What does Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918 eat?
The diet of the Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918 includes larvae feed on leaves, leafstems, and crowns of sugarbeets.
When is Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918 active?
Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918: seasonal activity - adults fly from spring to fall.
What is the life cycle of a Sugarbeet Crown Borer Moth - Hodges#5918?
two generations per year; overwinters as a pupa in the soil; adults emerge in spring and lay eggs around sugarbeet crowns or on leaves and leafstems