Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950
Fumibotys fumalis
This record describes Fumibotys fumalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing orangish to light brown with AM line shaped like an arc, and PM line shape like a sine wave; large diffuse dark patch near middle of wing between AM and PM lines Larva: young larva is 2-3 mm long, yellow to light green with dark stripes down the back; older larva is up to 19 mm long, yellow-tan with a red-brown head can be a serious pest to commercial mint growers
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Fumibotys
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
much of North America
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: young larvae feed on the leaves of mint ( Mentha spp.); older larvae feed on the roots and rhizomes of the same plants
Life History
overwinters in the soil around mint roots as a prepupa; pupates in the spring and emerges as a moth in June and July; larvae hatch from eggs deposited on the undersides of leaves and feed for a short time before moving into the soil to feed inside the rhizomes; continued feeding eventually kills the mint plant
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Fumibotys fumalis. 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 Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Tony-2 , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950
What is Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950?
Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950 (Fumibotys fumalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950?
wingspan 20 mm larva to 19 mm
How do you identify Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950?
Adult: forewing orangish to light brown with AM line shaped like an arc, and PM line shape like a sine wave; large diffuse dark patch near middle of wing between AM and PM lines Larva: young larva is 2-3 mm long, yellow to light green with dark stripes down the back; older larva is up to 19 mm long, yellow-tan with a red-brown head
Where is Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950 found?
Range: much of North America
What does Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950 eat?
The diet of the Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950 includes young larvae feed on the leaves of mint ( Mentha spp.); older larvae feed on the roots and rhizomes of the same plants.
When is Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950 active?
Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Mint Root Borer - Hodges#4950?
overwinters in the soil around mint roots as a prepupa; pupates in the spring and emerges as a moth in June and July; larvae hatch from eggs deposited on the undersides of leaves and feed for a short time before moving into the soil to feed inside the rhizomes; continued feeding eventually kills the mint plant