Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432
Fissicrambus intermedius
This record describes Fissicrambus intermedius (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Kearfott's original description as Crambus intermedius is online (see below). Kearfott describes the rich buff-orange color (dark ochreous) of the FW between the white streak and the costal margin. The white streak widens from the base to the middle, narrowing rather abruptly outward, and splitting at the end of the cell to become just white vein streaks extending to the outer margin. Identified examples of F. intermedius on MPG, BG, BOLD, and iNaturalist apparently lack any of the smudgy dark spots above the white stripe routinely seen on other species such as F. profanellus and F. quadrinotatus . Kearfott (1908, p. 383) noted some size and color differences in the examples he studied from Arizona and Texas but concuded that the Texas specimens were just darker varieties of the same species. BOLD barcode results on a small sample show very limited divergence between Arizona and Texas specimens for the COI gene. Bleszynski said of this genus: Externally nearly all the species of this genus are practically indistinguishable from each other, being sometimes distinct only on size. The study of this genus is only provisional, many questions are still unsolved. At the time, Bleszynski thought F. intermedius might be synonymous with F. profanellus but he had not examined Kearfott's types. Specimens and images accumulated since that time, as well as barcoding results, suggest these are distinct species.
Identification notes
Kearfott's (1908) original description as Crambus intermedius is online (see below). Kearfott describes the rich buff-orange color (dark ochreous) of the FW between the white streak and the costal margin. The white streak widens from the base to the middle, narrowing rather abruptly outward, and splitting at the end of the cell to become just white vein streaks extending to the outer margin. Identified examples of F. intermedius on MPG, BG, BOLD, and iNaturalist apparently lack any of the smudgy dark spots above the white stripe routinely seen on other species such as F. profanellus and F. quadrinotatus .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Fissicrambus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California to Texas. Type localities: USA: "Arizona"; Texas, Burnet Co. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Bug Guide data
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are from March to May; August to October. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Fissicrambus intermedius. 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 Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432
What is Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432?
Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432 (Fissicrambus intermedius) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432?
Kearfott (1908) listed the wingspan 16-20 mm.
How do you identify Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432?
Kearfott's (1908) original description as Crambus intermedius is online (see below). Kearfott describes the rich buff-orange color (dark ochreous) of the FW between the white streak and the costal margin. The white streak widens from the base to the middle, narrowing rather abruptly outward, and splitting at the end of the cell to become just white vein streaks extending to the outer margin. Identified examples of F. intermedius on MPG, BG, BOLD, and iNaturalist apparently lack any of the smudgy dark spots above the white stripe routinely seen on other species such as F. profanellus and F. quadrinotatus .
Where is Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432 found?
Range: Southern California to Texas. Type localities: USA: Arizona; Texas, Burnet Co. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Bug Guide data
What does Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432 eat?
The diet of the Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432 includes Unknown..
When is Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432 active?
Fissicrambus intermedius - Hodges#5432: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are from March to May; August to October. ( 3 ).