Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244
Herpetogramma fluctuosalis
This record describes Herpetogramma fluctuosalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to H. bipunctalis , but lacks the 2 dark brown spots on the second sternite of the abdomen. ( 3 ) Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Herpetogrammatini
- Genus
- Herpetogramma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Solis (2010) listed the range as Maryland to Florida, west to Texas. ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) also included West Indies, Mexico. ( 8 )
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) reported adults in Florida from April to July, October, December. ( 8 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Capps (1964) reared larvae on sweet potato. ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) reported Boehmeria cylindrica (smallspike false nettle) and Ipomoea batatas (sweetpotato). ( 8 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Herpetogramma fluctuosalis. 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 Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by cotinis , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244
What is Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244?
Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244 (Herpetogramma fluctuosalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244?
Wingspan 22-25 mm.
How do you identify Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244?
Similar to H. bipunctalis , but lacks the 2 dark brown spots on the second sternite of the abdomen. ( 3 ) Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 4 )
Where is Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244 found?
Range: Solis (2010) listed the range as Maryland to Florida, west to Texas. ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) also included West Indies, Mexico. ( 8 )
What does Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244 eat?
The diet of the Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244 includes Capps (1964) reared larvae on sweet potato. ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) reported Boehmeria cylindrica (smallspike false nettle) and Ipomoea batatas (sweetpotato). ( 8 ).
When is Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244 active?
Greater Sweet Potato Webworm Moth - Hodges#5244: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reported adults in Florida from April to July, October, December. ( 8 ).