Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355
Crambus praefectellus
This record describes Crambus praefectellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing brownish-orange with long white or silvery stripe, tapered at both ends; width of stripe at base less than or equal to distance from stripe to costa; several thin black lines run from white stripe to ST line, which is single and inconspicuous; subterminal area with several short whitish streaks, each terminating in a black dot; oblique dark streak at apex, surrounded by whitish wedges; fringe white or pale yellowish; hindwing pale brownish-gray to whitish with white fringe.
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
Fields, weedy areas, waste places; adults rest in grass or weeds during day, becoming active at dusk, and are attracted to light.
Geographic Range
United States and southern Canada east of the Rockies.
Seasonal Activity
May to September in the north; April to October in mid-latitudes; probably all year in southern Florida and Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on grasses and cereal grains.
Life History
One to several generations per year; eggs are laid while flying low over ground; larvae feed nocturnally for 3-4 weeks; life cycle lasts 5-8 weeks.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Praefectus is Latin for "in charge, commander."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Crambus praefectellus. 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 Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355
What is Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355?
Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355 (Crambus praefectellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355?
Wingspan 18-25 mm.
How do you identify Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355?
Adult - forewing brownish-orange with long white or silvery stripe, tapered at both ends; width of stripe at base less than or equal to distance from stripe to costa; several thin black lines run from white stripe to ST line, which is single and inconspicuous; subterminal area with several short whitish streaks, each terminating in a black dot; oblique dark streak at apex, surrounded by whitish wedges; fringe white or pale yellowish; hindwing pale brownish-gray to whitish with white fringe.
Where is Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Fields, weedy areas, waste places; adults rest in grass or weeds during day, becoming active at dusk, and are attracted to light. |
| Range | United States and southern Canada east of the Rockies. |
What does Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355 eat?
The diet of the Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355 includes Larvae feed on grasses and cereal grains..
When is Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355 active?
Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355: seasonal activity - May to September in the north; April to October in mid-latitudes; probably all year in southern Florida and Texas..
What is the life cycle of a Common Grass-veneer - Hodges#5355?
One to several generations per year; eggs are laid while flying low over ground; larvae feed nocturnally for 3-4 weeks; life cycle lasts 5-8 weeks.