Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896
Elasmopalpus lignosella
This record describes Elasmopalpus lignosella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - sexually dimorphic. Males are tan with dark streaks along the costa and inner margin. The tan coloring is reduced to a longitudinal stripe in the females and they have much more dark scaling. Some females are basically black with red scaling at the base of the forewing.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Elasmopalpus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Can be abundant in cultivated fields with poor soils.
Geographic Range
Eastern and southwestern United States and south throughout South America.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Luginbill & Ainslie (1917) stated the larvae feed on grasses and a variety of commercial crops including beans, corn (a serious pest), cowpeas, peanuts, sorghum, sugar cane, turnips, wheat.
Life History
Luginbill & Ainslie describe life cycle in PDF Overwinter as larvae or pupae. Up to 4 generations per year in the south.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elasmopalpus lignosella. 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 Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , Ted Kropiewnicki , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896
What is Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896?
Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896 (Elasmopalpus lignosella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896?
Luginbill & Ainslie (1917) reported the wingspan 17-22 mm. Larva to 16 mm Pupa 8.2 mm Cocoon 15.9 mm
How do you identify Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896?
Adult - sexually dimorphic. Males are tan with dark streaks along the costa and inner margin. The tan coloring is reduced to a longitudinal stripe in the females and they have much more dark scaling. Some females are basically black with red scaling at the base of the forewing.
Where is Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Can be abundant in cultivated fields with poor soils. |
| Range | Eastern and southwestern United States and south throughout South America. |
What does Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896 eat?
The diet of the Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896 includes Luginbill & Ainslie (1917) stated the larvae feed on grasses and a variety of commercial crops including beans, corn (a serious pest), cowpeas, peanuts, sorghum, sugar cane, turnips, wheat..
What is the life cycle of a Lesser Cornstalk Borer - Hodges#5896?
Luginbill & Ainslie describe life cycle in PDF Overwinter as larvae or pupae. Up to 4 generations per year in the south.