Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177
Apogeshna stenialis
This record describes Apogeshna stenialis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably bright to pale yellow (mostly along costa) and brown (mostly along inner margin and beyond PM line); hollow oval spot in median area, and another descending from AM line; AM, PM, and median lines fairly straight; PM line terminates at anal angle; hindwing brown with large dark-edged pale patches; fringes of wings dark with scattered pale patches
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Steniini
- Genus
- Apogeshna
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Deciduous forests?
Geographic Range
Maine to Florida, west to Alabama, Illinois, and Ohio.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly early June to late July on Block Island , RI.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Unknown.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: See genus guide page for possible origin of that name. Specific epithet "stenialis" may refer to an ancient Greek nocturnal fertility festival, Stenia . This festival involved bread made in the shape of "snakes and phalluses". Perhaps this is the allusion--based on the sinuous wing markings! (Based on Internet searches.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apogeshna stenialis. 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 Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177
What is Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177?
Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177 (Apogeshna stenialis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177?
Wingspan about 17 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177?
Adult: forewing variably bright to pale yellow (mostly along costa) and brown (mostly along inner margin and beyond PM line); hollow oval spot in median area, and another descending from AM line; AM, PM, and median lines fairly straight; PM line terminates at anal angle; hindwing brown with large dark-edged pale patches; fringes of wings dark with scattered pale patches
Where is Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous forests? |
| Range | Maine to Florida, west to Alabama, Illinois, and Ohio. |
When is Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177 active?
Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177: seasonal activity - Adults fly early June to late July on Block Island , RI..
What is the life cycle of a Checkered Apogeshna - Hodges#5177?
Unknown.