Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849
Hellula aqualis
This record describes Hellula aqualis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Barnes & McDunnough original description is online. The females are much paler and without the bolder maculation of the males. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Hellula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California to western Texas and possibly western Colorado. Holotype ♂ from Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona (September). Holotype ♀ from Redington, Arizona.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hellula aqualis. 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 Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849
What is Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849?
Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849 (Hellula aqualis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849?
Barnes & McDunnough listed a wingspan of 16 mm.
How do you identify Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849?
Barnes & McDunnough original description is online. The females are much paler and without the bolder maculation of the males. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Hellula aqualis - Hodges#4849 found?
Range: Southern California to western Texas and possibly western Colorado. Holotype ♂ from Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona (September). Holotype ♀ from Redington, Arizona.