Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255
Diastictis ventralis
This record describes Diastictis ventralis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults - Similar in external appearance to D. argyralis , but with the antemedial spots absent, the outer cell-spot often absent, and the postmedial, submarginal, and subapical spots small or minute. Ground color varying from orange-yellow to olivaceous fuscous, but rarely as dark as in dark forms of argyralis and psudargyralis ; clear orange-yellow specimens appear mainly in the southernmost parts of the range (Munroe, 1956) [ ( 4 )
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
CA-FL-ME-WY, with a near absence of records from NM to GA - Map - MPG
Seasonal Activity
Apr-Sep (BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Diastictis ventralis. 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 ventralis - Hodges#5255 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255
What is Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255?
Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255 (Diastictis ventralis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255?
Adults - Similar in external appearance to D. argyralis , but with the antemedial spots absent, the outer cell-spot often absent, and the postmedial, submarginal, and subapical spots small or minute. Ground color varying from orange-yellow to olivaceous fuscous, but rarely as dark as in dark forms of argyralis and psudargyralis ; clear orange-yellow specimens appear mainly in the southernmost parts of the range (Munroe, 1956) [ ( 4 )
Where is Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255 found?
Range: CA-FL-ME-WY, with a near absence of records from NM to GA - Map - MPG
What does Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255 eat?
The diet of the Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255 includes Unknown.
When is Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255 active?
Diastictis ventralis - Hodges#5255: seasonal activity - Apr-Sep (BG data).