Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800
Frechinia laetalis
This record describes Frechinia laetalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing white with yellowish-brown patches and some gray scales; PM line white, curving in long arc from costa to mid-way along inner margin; medium brownish-gray patch inside PM line contains white scales along veins; hindwing white in male, dark gray in female. Genitalia: Type locality: USA, Arizona, Redington
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Odontiinae
- Tribe
- Odontiini
- Genus
- Frechinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Most widespread of this genus, from eastern Washington and Oregon to Utah, southern California, and western Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from April to October in California.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Leaf miners of ragweed ( Ambrosia , Asteraceae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Laetalis is from Latin meaning "joyful".
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Frechinia laetalis. 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 Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800
What is Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800?
Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800 (Frechinia laetalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800?
Forewing length 4.5-6.0 mm.
How do you identify Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800?
Adult - forewing white with yellowish-brown patches and some gray scales; PM line white, curving in long arc from costa to mid-way along inner margin; medium brownish-gray patch inside PM line contains white scales along veins; hindwing white in male, dark gray in female. Genitalia:
Where is Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800 found?
Range: Most widespread of this genus, from eastern Washington and Oregon to Utah, southern California, and western Texas.
What does Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800 eat?
The diet of the Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800 includes Leaf miners of ragweed ( Ambrosia , Asteraceae)..
When is Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800 active?
Frechinia laetalis - Hodges#4800: seasonal activity - Adults fly from April to October in California..