Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161
Desmia subdivisalis
This record describes Desmia subdivisalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote original description of Desmia subdivisalis is available online in the print references. From Brian Scholtens: The fringes on the wings are completely white and there is a slight dark halo around the spots. This species tends to have a purplish sheen but that is difficult to see in photos. - Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Nomophilini
- Genus
- Desmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida to New Mexico, Illinois, and Maryland. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) West Indies, Mexico. ( 6 ) Moth Photographers Group
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most often reported from April to August. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is unknown. ( 6 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Desmia subdivisalis. 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 Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs
Frequently Asked Questions About Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161
What is Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161?
Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161 (Desmia subdivisalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161?
Grote (1871) listed a wingspan of 19 mm.
How do you identify Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161?
Grote original description of Desmia subdivisalis is available online in the print references. From Brian Scholtens: The fringes on the wings are completely white and there is a slight dark halo around the spots. This species tends to have a purplish sheen but that is difficult to see in photos. - Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161 found?
Range: Florida to New Mexico, Illinois, and Maryland. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) West Indies, Mexico. ( 6 ) Moth Photographers Group
What does Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161 eat?
The diet of the Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161 includes Larval host is unknown. ( 6 ).
When is Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161 active?
Desmia subdivisalis - Hodges#5161: seasonal activity - Adults are most often reported from April to August. ( 5 ).