Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891
Dicymolomia opuntialis
This record describes Dicymolomia opuntialis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available online in the print references below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Dicymolomia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California. ( 3 ) Holotype collected in San Diego, California. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from May through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host plant is Opuntia sp. (prickly pear cactus). ( 4 )
Life History
The larva form mines in the joints of the cactus pads. ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is for the host plant Opuntia .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dicymolomia opuntialis. 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 Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891
What is Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891?
Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891 (Dicymolomia opuntialis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891?
Wingspan about 13 mm.
How do you identify Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891?
The original description is available online in the print references below.
Where is Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891 found?
Range: California. ( 3 ) Holotype collected in San Diego, California. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891 eat?
The diet of the Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891 includes The larval host plant is Opuntia sp. (prickly pear cactus). ( 4 ).
When is Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891 active?
Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from May through September..
What is the life cycle of a Dicymolomia opuntialis - Hodges#4891?
The larva form mines in the joints of the cactus pads. ( 5 )