Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901
Evergestis unimacula
This record describes Evergestis unimacula (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing dark grayish-brown with irregular pale patch along outer half of costa; small pale discal spot in lower half of wing; terminal line and fringe dark; hindwing similarly colored but pale patch more diffuse and fringe somewhat paler.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Evergestis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern United States, west to at least Iowa, plus Ontario.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet unimacula is Latin meaning "one spot."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Evergestis unimacula. 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 Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901
What is Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901?
Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901 (Evergestis unimacula) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901?
Wingspan 18-22 mm.
How do you identify Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901?
Adult - forewing dark grayish-brown with irregular pale patch along outer half of costa; small pale discal spot in lower half of wing; terminal line and fringe dark; hindwing similarly colored but pale patch more diffuse and fringe somewhat paler.
Where is Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901 found?
Range: Eastern United States, west to at least Iowa, plus Ontario.
What does Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901 eat?
The diet of the Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901 includes Unknown..
When is Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901 active?
Large-spotted Evergestis - Hodges#4901: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to August..