Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726
Fundella argentina
This record describes Fundella argentina (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Determined by Bob Patterson. Type locality Argentina. It may be an introduced species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Fundella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include Florida; Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Argentina. ,
Seasonal Activity
Heppner reported January to May, October, December in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner listed the following host plants. Albizia lebbek Bauhinia spp. Canavalia gladiata Cassia alata C. bicapsularis C. chamaecrista C. corymbosa C. stahlii Crotalaria striata Poinciana gilliesi
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Fundella argentina. 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 Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Frequently Asked Questions About Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726
What is Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726?
Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726 (Fundella argentina) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726?
Dyar (1919) listed a wingspan of 18 mm.
Where is Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726 found?
Range: Heppner reported the range to include Florida; Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Argentina. ,
What does Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726 eat?
The diet of the Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726 includes Heppner listed the following host plants. Albizia lebbek Bauhinia spp. Canavalia gladiata Cassia alata C. bicapsularis C. chamaecrista C. corymbosa C. stahlii Crotalaria striata Poinciana gilliesi.
When is Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726 active?
Fundella argentina - Hodges#5726: seasonal activity - Heppner reported January to May, October, December in Florida..