Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361
Crambus albellus
This record describes Crambus albellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with sharply-pointed V-shaped PM line in strongly-marked specimens (otherwise faint or undetectable); ST line double, brownish-yellow, parallel to outer margin in lower two-thirds of wing, then bending basally and meeting costa at acute angle; terminal line thin, black, solid near costa, breaking into 4 or 5 dots in lower two-thirds of wing; hindwing pale brownish-gray with wide white fringe; thorax with white shoulder patches (tegulae) some specimens are noticeably darker, with variably partial to complete dusting of gray scales on forewing common name reference: Checklist of Moths of Algonquin Provincial Park, 2005, Jason Dombroskie, Ontario (RM has unpublished hard copy of database file) status in Algonquin Park is given as abundant at the west gate, and common at the east gate
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
Quebec and Ontario to North Carolina/Tennessee, west to Illinois and possibly Wisconsin
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in June through September and earlier in southern areas
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on grasses
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Crambus albellus. 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 Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361
What is Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361?
Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361 (Crambus albellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361?
wingspan about 16 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361?
Adult: forewing white with sharply-pointed V-shaped PM line in strongly-marked specimens (otherwise faint or undetectable); ST line double, brownish-yellow, parallel to outer margin in lower two-thirds of wing, then bending basally and meeting costa at acute angle; terminal line thin, black, solid near costa, breaking into 4 or 5 dots in lower two-thirds of wing; hindwing pale brownish-gray with wide white fringe; thorax with white shoulder patches (tegulae) some specimens are noticeably darker, with variably partial to complete dusting of gray scales on forewing
Where is Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361 found?
Range: Quebec and Ontario to North Carolina/Tennessee, west to Illinois and possibly Wisconsin
What does Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361 eat?
The diet of the Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361 includes larvae feed on grasses.
When is Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361 active?
Small White Grass-veneer - Hodges#5361: seasonal activity - adults fly in June through September and earlier in southern areas.