Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345
Crambus whitmerellus
This record describes Crambus whitmerellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish-brown with two white patches in subterminal area, brown V-shaped subterminal line, and black terminal line broken into 4 black dots in lower half; narrow white strip along costa for almost half its length; silvery-white longitudinal median stripe widens towards apex and has scimitar-shaped tip, with tooth mid-way along lower margin of stripe; hindwing light grayish-brown with white fringe [see original detailed description by Alexander Klots, linked to in Internet References section below] page creation based on Brian Scholtens' identification of this image , as reported by Bob Patterson in email message
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
Native grassland areas; adults fly during the day and also come to light at night.
Geographic Range
Alaska to Quebec, south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and Utah.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae presumably feed on grasses.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: whitmerellus : named by the describer (Alexander Klots) for his friend Richard Whitmer of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Crambus whitmerellus. 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 Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345
What is Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345?
Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345 (Crambus whitmerellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345?
wingspan 21-27 mm
How do you identify Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345?
Adult: forewing yellowish-brown with two white patches in subterminal area, brown V-shaped subterminal line, and black terminal line broken into 4 black dots in lower half; narrow white strip along costa for almost half its length; silvery-white longitudinal median stripe widens towards apex and has scimitar-shaped tip, with tooth mid-way along lower margin of stripe; hindwing light grayish-brown with white fringe [see original detailed description by Alexander Klots, linked to in Internet References section below]
Where is Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Native grassland areas; adults fly during the day and also come to light at night. |
| Range | Alaska to Quebec, south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and Utah. |
What does Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345 eat?
The diet of the Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345 includes Larvae presumably feed on grasses..
When is Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345 active?
Whitmer's Sod Webworm Moth - Hodges#5345: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from June to August..