Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846
Hellula rogatalis
This record describes Hellula rogatalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - FW brownish-yellow or grayish-yellow with wavy white AM, median, and PM lines; reniform spot smoothly-rounded, oval or kidney-shaped; ST composed of several equally-spaced black dots some distance from outer margin; HW light gray or grayish-yellow with dark terminal line and pale fringe Larva - early instars yellowish-gray with wide dark head; later instars have five dark reddish or purplish longitudinal stripes; body covered with sparse yellow or light brown hairs; head black with V-shaped mark.
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
Habitat
Gardens, commercial crop fields; the moths make short erratic flights when flushed from plants during the day; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Geographic Range
Southern United States (Florida to California), north in the east to Maryland, New York, and Ontario.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from late March to October in the south; June to October in the north (often migrates north late in season).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on crucifers (or mustards, family Brassicaceae) and related weeds, including cabbage, turnip, beet, collard, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, radish, kohlrabi, mustard, rape, horseradish, shepherd's purse, and purslane.
Life History
Grayish-white eggs are laid singly or in small masses near buds of young hostplants; as plants mature, more eggs are laid on underside of leaves along leaf stems; larvae feed on leaf buds and young leaves beneath a protective web made from silk-like threads; mature (fifth instar) larvae form webbed cocoons on hostplant or in soil, pupate, and emerge as adults within a week; multiple generations per year in the south; probably overwinters in soil as a pupa or larva in silk-lined cell.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hellula rogatalis. 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 rogatalis - Hodges#4846 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846
What is Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846?
Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846 (Hellula rogatalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 15-21 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 10-14 mm. Larva length 15-20 mm |
How do you identify Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846?
Adult - FW brownish-yellow or grayish-yellow with wavy white AM, median, and PM lines; reniform spot smoothly-rounded, oval or kidney-shaped; ST composed of several equally-spaced black dots some distance from outer margin; HW light gray or grayish-yellow with dark terminal line and pale fringe Larva - early instars yellowish-gray with wide dark head; later instars have five dark reddish or purplish longitudinal stripes; body covered with sparse yellow or light brown hairs; head black with V-shaped mark.
Where is Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Gardens, commercial crop fields; the moths make short erratic flights when flushed from plants during the day; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. |
| Range | Southern United States (Florida to California), north in the east to Maryland, New York, and Ontario. |
What does Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846 eat?
The diet of the Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846 includes Larvae feed on crucifers (or mustards, family Brassicaceae) and related weeds, including cabbage, turnip, beet, collard, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, radish, kohlrabi, mustard, rape, horseradish, shepherd's purse, and purslane..
When is Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846 active?
Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846: seasonal activity - Adults fly from late March to October in the south; June to October in the north (often migrates north late in season)..
What is the life cycle of a Hellula rogatalis - Hodges#4846?
Grayish-white eggs are laid singly or in small masses near buds of young hostplants; as plants mature, more eggs are laid on underside of leaves along leaf stems; larvae feed on leaf buds and young leaves beneath a protective web made from silk-like threads; mature (fifth instar) larvae form webbed cocoons on hostplant or in soil, pupate, and emerge as adults within a week; multiple generations per year in the south; probably overwinters in soil as a pupa or larva in silk-lined cell.