Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408
Catoptria latiradiellus
This record describes Catoptria latiradiellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing reddish-brown with silvery-white longitudinal stripe crossed by two diagonal medium-brown bands; terminal line a series of black dots; fringe gray; hindwing whitish basally, shading to light brown distally; fringe white Larva: body brown; head and cervical shield black
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Catoptria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wet tundra, boreal forests, grasslands; adults may be active during the day but are also nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
northern North America: Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in July and August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae probably feed on mosses, which is the food of a closely related European species, Catoptria permutatella
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CATOPTRIA: from the Greek "katoptron" (a mirror) - perhaps a reference to the reflective silvery-white stripe on the forewing LATIRADIELLA: from the Latin "lati" (broad, wide) + "radius" (a ray or rod) plus the diminutive suffix "ella" - perhaps another reference to the silvery-white stripe on the forewing, interpreted as a "broad ray"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Catoptria latiradiellus. 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 Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408
What is Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408?
Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408 (Catoptria latiradiellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408?
wingspan 19-24 mm
How do you identify Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408?
Adult: forewing reddish-brown with silvery-white longitudinal stripe crossed by two diagonal medium-brown bands; terminal line a series of black dots; fringe gray; hindwing whitish basally, shading to light brown distally; fringe white Larva: body brown; head and cervical shield black
Where is Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wet tundra, boreal forests, grasslands; adults may be active during the day but are also nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | northern North America: Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Colorado |
What does Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408 eat?
The diet of the Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408 includes larvae probably feed on mosses, which is the food of a closely related European species, Catoptria permutatella.
When is Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408 active?
Two-banded Catoptria - Hodges#5408: seasonal activity - adults fly in July and August.