Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200
Colomychus talis
This record describes Colomychus talis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark purplish-red with two large irregular yellow patches - one ascending from midway along inner margin, the other descending from costa about two-thirds distance from base (patches almost meet near middle of wing); small spot of same color in AM area near costa; hindwing similarly colored, with one large irregular patch in median area, and small yellow spot near base; black terminal line and white fringe on all wings Adults rest with forewings spread, revealing large portion of each hindwing
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Margaroniini
- Genus
- Colomychus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern United States: Virginia south into the neotropics.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from April to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Climbing Dogbane ( Thyrsanthella difformis ) and perhaps other members of the Apocynaceae family.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species name talis is perhaps a variant of Latin talus , the heel . Alternatively, this may refer to a Jewish prayer shawl, a talis ( tallis ), also spelled tallit (speculation based on Internet searches).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Colomychus talis. 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 Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , George Smiley
Frequently Asked Questions About Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200
What is Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200?
Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200 (Colomychus talis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200?
Wingspan about 20 mm
How do you identify Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200?
Adult: forewing dark purplish-red with two large irregular yellow patches - one ascending from midway along inner margin, the other descending from costa about two-thirds distance from base (patches almost meet near middle of wing); small spot of same color in AM area near costa; hindwing similarly colored, with one large irregular patch in median area, and small yellow spot near base; black terminal line and white fringe on all wings Adults rest with forewings spread, revealing large portion of each hindwing
Where is Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200 found?
Range: Southeastern United States: Virginia south into the neotropics.
What does Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200 eat?
The diet of the Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200 includes Climbing Dogbane ( Thyrsanthella difformis ) and perhaps other members of the Apocynaceae family..
When is Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200 active?
Distinguished Colomychus - Hodges#5200: seasonal activity - Adults fly from April to September..