Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342
Crambus bidens
This record describes Crambus bidens (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish to brownish with very wide white stripe sometimes bisected by brown longitudinal strip; upper edge of stripe almost touches costa, and lower edge has prominent tooth about two-thirds distance from base; oblique white spot at costa inside subterminal line, but otherwise no white patch between stripe and ST line; terminal area with white patch midway along outer margin; hindwing creamy white with pale brownish shading; fringe white
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
Habitat
mainly in northern bogs; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
northeastern United States and southeastern Canada: Quebec and Maine to Maryland, west to Ontario, Michigan, and perhaps Wisconsin, plus disjunct population in Alberta near Edmonton
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in July and August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae (and their foodplant) are unknown, according to U. of Alberta John Hilty's page from Illinois says larvae feed on Bidens species, but gives no literature reference, so I wonder whether this is a guess based on the specific epithet - see Explanation of Names section above
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: BIDENS: two possibilities... 1. might refer to the Latin "bi; bis" (two; twice) + "dens; dentis" (a tooth); the adult's forewing has a white streak whose distal end forks into two "teeth" - this might be the origin of the common name Forked Grass-veneer (proposed by Jason Dombroskie in a checklist of moths of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario) 2. might refer to the beggarticks genus Bidens , a possible larval foodplant, but this U. of Alberta page states that the larval host is unknown (and most other species of Crambus feed on grasses)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Crambus bidens. 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 Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342
What is Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342?
Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342 (Crambus bidens) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342?
wingspan 18-22 mm
How do you identify Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342?
Adult: forewing yellowish to brownish with very wide white stripe sometimes bisected by brown longitudinal strip; upper edge of stripe almost touches costa, and lower edge has prominent tooth about two-thirds distance from base; oblique white spot at costa inside subterminal line, but otherwise no white patch between stripe and ST line; terminal area with white patch midway along outer margin; hindwing creamy white with pale brownish shading; fringe white
Where is Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mainly in northern bogs; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | northeastern United States and southeastern Canada: Quebec and Maine to Maryland, west to Ontario, Michigan, and perhaps Wisconsin, plus disjunct population in Alberta near Edmonton |
What does Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342 eat?
The diet of the Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342 includes larvae (and their foodplant) are unknown, according to U. of Alberta John Hilty's page from Illinois says larvae feed on Bidens species, but gives no literature reference, so I wonder whether this is a guess based on the specific epithet - see Explanation of Names section above.
When is Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342 active?
Forked Grass-veneer - Hodges#5342: seasonal activity - adults fly in July and August.