Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062
Arivaca ostreella
This record describes Arivaca ostreella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dull yellowish in lower half, and white in upper half; white area bisected longitudinally by brownish-yellow strip that begins near base and gradually widens until terminating at apex; fringe white; hindwing pale grayish-white with white fringe; top of thorax white with dull yellowish tegulae (shoulders) See Shaffer
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Peoriini
- Genus
- Arivaca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southern Arizona to Brownsville, Texas (Shaffer, 1968)
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly April through September (Shaffer, 1968)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arivaca ostreella. 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 Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062
What is Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062?
Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062 (Arivaca ostreella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062?
wingspan about 25 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG; 28 mm (Shaffer, 1968)
How do you identify Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062?
Adult: forewing dull yellowish in lower half, and white in upper half; white area bisected longitudinally by brownish-yellow strip that begins near base and gradually widens until terminating at apex; fringe white; hindwing pale grayish-white with white fringe; top of thorax white with dull yellowish tegulae (shoulders) See Shaffer
Where is Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062 found?
Range: southern Arizona to Brownsville, Texas (Shaffer, 1968)
When is Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062 active?
Arivaca Moth - Hodges#6062: seasonal activity - Adults fly April through September (Shaffer, 1968).