Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261
Diastictis caecalis
This record describes Diastictis caecalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing chocolate brown with an irregular, darker postmedial, transverse line; hindwing milk chocolate brown to ochreous brown with a postmedial line extended to anal margin .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Agroterini
- Genus
- Diastictis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Often associated with serpentine soil grasslands .
Geographic Range
From the "foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges from Shasta County to the Transverse Ranges in southern California" .
Seasonal Activity
March to May .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Diastictis caecalis. 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 Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261
What is Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261?
Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261 (Diastictis caecalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261?
Forewing length: 9.0-12.5 mm .
How do you identify Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261?
Forewing chocolate brown with an irregular, darker postmedial, transverse line; hindwing milk chocolate brown to ochreous brown with a postmedial line extended to anal margin .
Where is Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Often associated with serpentine soil grasslands . |
| Range | From the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges from Shasta County to the Transverse Ranges in southern California . |
When is Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261 active?
Diastictis caecalis - Hodges#5261: seasonal activity - March to May ..