Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841
Heliothelopsis arbutalis
This record describes Heliothelopsis arbutalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewings dark brown with a narrow grey submarginal line from the apex to the anal angle. The hindwings are black, crossed in the middle with a pale yellow-orange band from the costal margin to the inner margin.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Odontiinae
- Tribe
- Odontiini
- Genus
- Heliothelopsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from southern Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Records from May and September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Heliothelopsis arbutalis. 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 Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841
What is Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841?
Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841 (Heliothelopsis arbutalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841?
Wingspan: about 25 mm
How do you identify Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841?
Forewings dark brown with a narrow grey submarginal line from the apex to the anal angle. The hindwings are black, crossed in the middle with a pale yellow-orange band from the costal margin to the inner margin.
Where is Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841 found?
Range: Records from southern Arizona.
When is Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841 active?
Heliothelopsis arbutalis - Hodges#4841: seasonal activity - Records from May and September..