Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128
Choristostigma plumbosignalis
This record describes Choristostigma plumbosignalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Botis plumbosignalis Fernald, is available online in the print references below. Adult: forewing yellow with broad purplish-gray or silvery-gray (lead-colored) PM line shaped like a Y, with the top of the Y near or touching the costa; hindwing off-white with pale yellowish tint along outer margin.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Hydririni
- Genus
- Choristostigma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
grassland coulees, aspen parkland, and wooded areas in boreal forest and mountains; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
British Columbia and Alberta to Arizona and New Mexico, east to South Dakota. , ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults appear to be most common from June to August.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Choristostigma plumbosignalis. 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 Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128
What is Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128?
Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128 (Choristostigma plumbosignalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128?
Wingspan about 20-21 mm.
How do you identify Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128?
The original description as Botis plumbosignalis Fernald, is available online in the print references below. Adult: forewing yellow with broad purplish-gray or silvery-gray (lead-colored) PM line shaped like a Y, with the top of the Y near or touching the costa; hindwing off-white with pale yellowish tint along outer margin.
Where is Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | grassland coulees, aspen parkland, and wooded areas in boreal forest and mountains; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | British Columbia and Alberta to Arizona and New Mexico, east to South Dakota. , |
When is Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128 active?
Choristostigma plumbosignalis - Hodges#5128: seasonal activity - Adults appear to be most common from June to August..