Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256
Diastictis fracturalis
This record describes Diastictis fracturalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Powell & Opler described as pale tan to dark brown with highly variable silvery markings, from small, isolated spots to elongated, connected ones. This is the most variable species of the genus, and, although there seem to be geographical differences in norms, the whole gamut of variation is represented in most parts of the range. There is a high proportion of specimens with small spots in Texas, and of pale specimens in Arizona, but there is nothing approaching a degree of differentiation that would justify the separation of subspecies. I can see no clear seasonal separation between pale and dark individuals (Munroe, 1956)
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
Geographic Range
Powell & Opler reported the range to include California to Arkansas and Texas . Moth Photographers Group and Bug Guide shows California to South Dakota, Colorado and Louisiana. Also found in Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet {H. H. Smith), Jalisco (Schumann). Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be February to October. Powell & Opler reported adults fly February through November in coastal California.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Diastictis fracturalis. 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 Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256
What is Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256?
Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256 (Diastictis fracturalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256?
Forewing length 9.5-14.5 mm.
How do you identify Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256?
Powell & Opler described as pale tan to dark brown with highly variable silvery markings, from small, isolated spots to elongated, connected ones.
Where is Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256 found?
Range: Powell & Opler reported the range to include California to Arkansas and Texas . Moth Photographers Group and Bug Guide shows California to South Dakota, Colorado and Louisiana. Also found in Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison), Amula in Guerrero 6000 feet {H. H. Smith), Jalisco (Schumann). Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
When is Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256 active?
Fractured Western Snout Moth - Hodges#5256: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be February to October. Powell & Opler reported adults fly February through November in coastal California..