Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236
Laniifera cyclades
This record describes Laniifera cyclades (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Considered a pest of the commercial production of Opuntia prickly pear cactus or nopal.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Asciodini
- Genus
- Laniifera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
FL, AZ - Mann (1969). Type Locality: Mexico, near Durango City, near Mexico City.
Seasonal Activity
July to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Opuntia spp. (prickly pear)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Laniifera cyclades. 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 Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236
What is Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236?
Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236 (Laniifera cyclades) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236?
Wingspan about 40 mm.
Where is Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236 found?
Range: FL, AZ - Mann (1969). Type Locality: Mexico, near Durango City, near Mexico City.
What does Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236 eat?
The diet of the Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236 includes Opuntia spp. (prickly pear).
When is Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236 active?
Laniifera cyclades - Hodges#5236: seasonal activity - July to September.