Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984
Helvibotys pucilla
This record describes Helvibotys pucilla (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance

Adult: forewing black in basal quarter/third and distal half, leaving broad yellow band in median area; hindwing yellow except for broad black terminal band; fringe yellow on all wings; antennae white from tip to beyond middle, then black to base; tip of abdomen black; remainder of body, head, and legs yellow This species is known only from females. There is another species, known only from males called Helvibotys subcostalis Munroe, which is solid orange, with no black. These are probably the same species, which if it can be proven by rearing, would be H. pucilla (the older name). I THINK yours is a female, but please check. There is a second similar species, Helvibotys freemani Munroe, which is orange with thin black marginal bands in the male on both wings, thicker bands in the female, which also has a black tipped abdomen. H. freemani is fairly common at times in southern Texas. H. pucilla is quite rare, known from Texas, Louisiana, and now, Oklahoma. [the above is an excerpt of a comment by Ed Knudsen here relayed by Bob Patterson]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Helvibotys
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
scattered records, TX-OK, KY - Map (MPG) south at least to Guatemala
Seasonal Activity
June to August (+?) (MPG)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Helvibotys pucilla. 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 Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984
What is Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984?
Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984 (Helvibotys pucilla) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984?
wingspan ~14 mm (BG data)
How do you identify Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984?
Adult: forewing black in basal quarter/third and distal half, leaving broad yellow band in median area; hindwing yellow except for broad black terminal band; fringe yellow on all wings; antennae white from tip to beyond middle, then black to base; tip of abdomen black; remainder of body, head, and legs yellow
Where is Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984 found?
Range: scattered records, TX-OK, KY - Map (MPG) south at least to Guatemala
When is Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984 active?
Helvibotys pucilla - Hodges#4984: seasonal activity - June to August (+?) (MPG).
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