Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750
Elophila nebulosalis
This record describes Elophila nebulosalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing orangish-yellow with diffuse dark gray patch that forms a semicircle along the costa; area inside semicircle filled with ground color and a small white patch that touches costa anteriorly; subterminal line wavy, white with black borders, crossing entire wing; hindwing with similar ground color and three irregular black-bordered white lines
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acentropinae
- Tribe
- Nymphulini
- Genus
- Elophila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
larvae are presumably aquatic, like other species of Munroessa ; adults may be flushed from vegetation during the day but are nocturnal and attracted to light
Geographic Range
South Carolina to Florida
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: NEBULOSALIS: from the Latin "nebulosus" (cloudy) or "nebula" (a cloud); probably refers to the diffuse dark patch on the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Nebulous Munroessa
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elophila nebulosalis. 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 Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750
What is Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750?
Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750 (Elophila nebulosalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750?
wingspan about 15 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750?
Adult: forewing orangish-yellow with diffuse dark gray patch that forms a semicircle along the costa; area inside semicircle filled with ground color and a small white patch that touches costa anteriorly; subterminal line wavy, white with black borders, crossing entire wing; hindwing with similar ground color and three irregular black-bordered white lines
Where is Nebulous Munroessa - Hodges#4750 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | larvae are presumably aquatic, like other species of Munroessa ; adults may be flushed from vegetation during the day but are nocturnal and attracted to light |
| Range | South Carolina to Florida |