Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127
Hydriris ornatalis
This record describes Hydriris ornatalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brownish-gray in basal area and beyond PM line; median area yellowish with shiny metallic orbicular and reniform spots; PM line black, thick, slightly wavy; diffuse blackish subapical streak extends from PM line to outer margin; hindwing similarly colored, with partial PM line and black discal dot Type locality: Italy, Sicily
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Hydririni
- Genus
- Hydriris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Europe and Asia; in North America, apparently restricted to Florida
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae apparently feed on plants in the morning-glory family such as Swamp Morning-glory ( Ipomoea aquatica )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hydriris ornatalis. 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 Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127
What is Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127?
Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127 (Hydriris ornatalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127?
wingspan about 16 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127?
Adult: forewing brownish-gray in basal area and beyond PM line; median area yellowish with shiny metallic orbicular and reniform spots; PM line black, thick, slightly wavy; diffuse blackish subapical streak extends from PM line to outer margin; hindwing similarly colored, with partial PM line and black discal dot
Where is Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127 found?
Range: Europe and Asia; in North America, apparently restricted to Florida
What does Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127 eat?
The diet of the Ornate Hydriris Moth - Hodges#5127 includes larvae apparently feed on plants in the morning-glory family such as Swamp Morning-glory ( Ipomoea aquatica ).