Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950
Laetilia zamacrella
This record describes Laetilia zamacrella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Description notes adapted from Heinrich. Forewing has small area of black at base. The white antemedial line is slightly indented at fold, and bordered on both sides with blackish brown. The discal spot is black. The white subterminal line is angled outward between veins 1 and 5, and has a narrowly bordered on both sides by black. There is a row of fused black spots along outer margin. Fringe is ashy gray. The larvae of Laetilia zamacrella are host for the Chalcidoid wasp Brachymeria laetiliae . ( Brachymeria ).
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
California. , , Holotype from Mount Wilson, California in July.
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear to be most common from March to October. Powell & Opler reported two flights of April to June, August to November based on collection data at lights.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler reported the larvae to be predaceous and found them feeding on Toumeyella pinicola . These scale insects are associated with Pinus radiata (Monterey pine).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Laetilia zamacrella. 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 zamacrella - Hodges#5950 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950
What is Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950?
Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950 (Laetilia zamacrella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950?
Heinrich listed the wingspan as 24-25 mm. Powell & Opler listed the forewing length as 7-13 mm.
How do you identify Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950?
Description notes adapted from Heinrich. Forewing has small area of black at base. The white antemedial line is slightly indented at fold, and bordered on both sides with blackish brown. The discal spot is black. The white subterminal line is angled outward between veins 1 and 5, and has a narrowly bordered on both sides by black. There is a row of fused black spots along outer margin. Fringe is ashy gray.
Where is Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950 found?
Range: California. , , Holotype from Mount Wilson, California in July.
What does Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950 eat?
The diet of the Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950 includes Powell & Opler reported the larvae to be predaceous and found them feeding on Toumeyella pinicola . These scale insects are associated with Pinus radiata (Monterey pine)..
When is Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950 active?
Laetilia zamacrella - Hodges#5950: seasonal activity - The adults appear to be most common from March to October. Powell & Opler reported two flights of April to June, August to November based on collection data at lights..