Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703
Gesneria centuriella
This record describes Gesneria centuriella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably gray to brown with black spots and jagged AM and PM lines; median area pale compared to dark distal half of wing; hindwing light yellowish-gray with dark discal spot and terminal band. More detailed descriptions of subspecies can be found in MONA Fascicle 13.1A at link below under citations. Images of described subspecies can be found in MONA Fascicle 13.1C at link below under citations.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Scopariinae
- Genus
- Gesneria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Most of southern Canada and northern United States, also represented throughout northern Eurasia.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gesneria centuriella. 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 Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703
What is Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703?
Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703 (Gesneria centuriella) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703?
Wingspan 23-30 mm.
How do you identify Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703?
Adult: forewing variably gray to brown with black spots and jagged AM and PM lines; median area pale compared to dark distal half of wing; hindwing light yellowish-gray with dark discal spot and terminal band. More detailed descriptions of subspecies can be found in MONA Fascicle 13.1A at link below under citations. Images of described subspecies can be found in MONA Fascicle 13.1C at link below under citations.
Where is Gesneria centuriella - Hodges#4703 found?
Range: Most of southern Canada and northern United States, also represented throughout northern Eurasia.