LepidopteraCrambidae – Crambid Snout Moths

Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354

Crambus ainslieellus

This record describes Crambus ainslieellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354 - Crambus ainslieellus
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Pyraloidea
Family
Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
Subfamily
Crambinae
Tribe
Crambini
Genus
Crambus

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

British Columbia, Montana, and Iowa to Nova Scotia and Maine; Colorado(?). ,

Diet and Behavior

Diet: The larvae are thought to feed on grasses (Poaceae).

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Crambus ainslieellus. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354

How big is Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354?

Wingspan 21-29 mm.

Where is Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354 found?

Range: British Columbia, Montana, and Iowa to Nova Scotia and Maine; Colorado(?). ,

What does Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354 eat?

The diet of the Crambus ainslieellus - Hodges#5354 includes The larvae are thought to feed on grasses (Poaceae)..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.