Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785
Eoparargyractis irroratalis
This record describes Eoparargyractis irroratalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Small, with triangular wings usually held tent-like over body. Has the typical pattern for the subfamily with brown bands across white ground color on both wings and dark speckliing in the outer half; a series of brown, white, and orange radiating rays near in the outer margin of the forewing; hindwings with a series of 5 black marginal eyespots which are flanked by smaller irridescent patches. Distinguished from similar moths in genus Petrophila by a combination of: (a) dark brown arching line at base of forewing; (b) innermost (subapical) white ray on FW is much thinner than outer (subterminal) one; (c) strong yellow tint on hindwings in front of eyespots.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acentropinae
- Tribe
- Argyractini
- Genus
- Eoparargyractis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Found primarily in the southeastern U.S., including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, with a few outlier records in Maryland, Montana and British Columbia.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been recorded on wing nearly year round in the southern part of the range.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eoparargyractis irroratalis. 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 Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , Chuck Entz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785
What is Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785?
Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785 (Eoparargyractis irroratalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785?
Small, with triangular wings usually held tent-like over body. Has the typical pattern for the subfamily with brown bands across white ground color on both wings and dark speckliing in the outer half; a series of brown, white, and orange radiating rays near in the outer margin of the forewing; hindwings with a series of 5 black marginal eyespots which are flanked by smaller irridescent patches. Distinguished from similar moths in genus Petrophila by a combination of: (a) dark brown arching line at base of forewing; (b) innermost (subapical) white ray on FW is much thinner than outer (subterminal) one; (c) strong yellow tint on hindwings in front of eyespots.
Where is Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785 found?
Range: Found primarily in the southeastern U.S., including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, with a few outlier records in Maryland, Montana and British Columbia.
When is Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785 active?
Dewy Leafcutter - Hodges#4785: seasonal activity - Adults have been recorded on wing nearly year round in the southern part of the range..