Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580
Cacozelia basiochrealis
This record describes Cacozelia basiochrealis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing has yellowish basal area with brown accents, bluish-gray median area, and brownish shading beyond PM line; small pale patch just outside PM line at costa; black discal spot shaped like short rod in median area; hindwing dark grayish-brown This is the type species of the genus Cacozelia . The related species Cacozelia alboplagialis [Hodges #5581] seen in some lists is now known as Milgithea alboplagialis . It was described in 1905 by Dyar, who orginally placed it in genus Cacozelia .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Epipaschiinae
- Genus
- Cacozelia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Midwest south through Texas; Arizona
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from late July to early September. Some June and October records. April through October in Texas.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: basiochrealis : from the Latin "basis" (base) + "ochra" (pale yellow); refers to the color at the base of the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Yellow-based Cacozelia
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cacozelia basiochrealis. 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 Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580
What is Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580?
Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580 (Cacozelia basiochrealis) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580?
forewing length 9-11.5 mm
How do you identify Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580?
Adult: forewing has yellowish basal area with brown accents, bluish-gray median area, and brownish shading beyond PM line; small pale patch just outside PM line at costa; black discal spot shaped like short rod in median area; hindwing dark grayish-brown
Where is Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580 found?
Range: Midwest south through Texas; Arizona
When is Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580 active?
Yellow-based Cacozelia - Hodges#5580: seasonal activity - Adults fly from late July to early September. Some June and October records. April through October in Texas..