Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471
Chilo erianthalis
This record describes Chilo erianthalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Original description is online: (31) Forewing gray with slight reddish tint. The dark shaded veins are limited to the outer half of the wing. Dark chevron shaped patch of scales in the median area. Terminal line is a series of black dots. Fringe is slightly metallic. - Determined by Richard Brown
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Chilonini
- Genus
- Chilo
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Louisiana to South Carolina and Florida . , , West Indies. Type locality: USA: Louisiana, Port Blarre. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Saccharum [ Erianthus ] sp. (31) Other grasses (Gramineae) likely. ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name for the host plant Erianthus .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chilo erianthalis. 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 Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471
What is Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471?
Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471 (Chilo erianthalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471?
Wingspan: (31) ♂ - 24 mm. ♀ - 25-28 mm.
How do you identify Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471?
Original description is online: (31) Forewing gray with slight reddish tint. The dark shaded veins are limited to the outer half of the wing. Dark chevron shaped patch of scales in the median area. Terminal line is a series of black dots. Fringe is slightly metallic. - Determined by Richard Brown
Where is Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471 found?
Range: Louisiana to South Carolina and Florida . , , West Indies. Type locality: USA: Louisiana, Port Blarre. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471 eat?
The diet of the Chilo erianthalis - Hodges#5471 includes Saccharum [ Erianthus ] sp. (31) Other grasses (Gramineae) likely. ( 4 ).