Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1
Laetilia dilatifasciella
This record describes Laetilia dilatifasciella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Laetilia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern New Mexico to southern California. , ,
Seasonal Activity
Larvae recorded from May and October and adults from May and July through October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larve is predaceous on scale insects of several families (Cerococcidae, Coccidae, Dactylopiidae, and Kermesidae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "broad-banded," for the forewings that feature the "outer border of the first line forming a broad band."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Laetilia dilatifasciella. 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 Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1
How big is Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1?
Forewing length 6-8 mm.
Where is Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1 found?
Range: Southern New Mexico to southern California. , ,
What does Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1 eat?
The diet of the Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1 includes The larve is predaceous on scale insects of several families (Cerococcidae, Coccidae, Dactylopiidae, and Kermesidae)..
When is Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1 active?
Laetilia dilatifasciella - Hodges#5949.1: seasonal activity - Larvae recorded from May and October and adults from May and July through October..