Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301
Leptosteges flavicostella
This record describes Leptosteges flavicostella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Schoenobiinae
- Genus
- Leptosteges
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner (2003) listed the range as Florida. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group and area checklists expand the range to South Carolina and Georgia. The Maine record is possible stray or error? ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) reported adults from April to November in Florida. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) listed the larval host plant as unknown. ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leptosteges flavicostella. 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 Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301
How big is Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301?
Wingspan about 11-13 mm.
Where is Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) listed the range as Florida. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group and area checklists expand the range to South Carolina and Georgia. The Maine record is possible stray or error? ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301 eat?
The diet of the Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301 includes Heppner (2003) listed the larval host plant as unknown. ( 3 ).
When is Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301 active?
Leptosteges flavicostella - Hodges#5301: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reported adults from April to November in Florida. ( 3 ).