Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300
Leptosteges xantholeucalis
This record describes Leptosteges xantholeucalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Rough Google translation: 14mm. |
| Forewings | Forewings, triangular, acute apex, right side: the hind wings narrow, undeveloped and acute, triangular; the four of pure white, silky, with a vague border, ochraceous. |
| Forewings | Forewings having two strips of a beautiful yellow ocher, without edging, straight, parallel, wide apart: the first with a reentrant point in the middle; the second joining the terminal border by a line towards the middle and joining it further to the internal angle. A strong cell spot of the same yellow, between the two lines, and at equal distance. Hind wings with an extracellular point and a short anal litter of the same yellow. (Guenée, 1854) See Fernald (1887) in References below which has a very different description. |
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
Mississippi to Florida and North Carolina; Cuba. Type locality: Georgia
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leptosteges xantholeucalis. 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 xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300
What is Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300?
Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300 (Leptosteges xantholeucalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300?
Wingspan: 12-16mm (Fernald, 1887)
How do you identify Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Rough Google translation: 14mm. |
| Forewings | Forewings, triangular, acute apex, right side: the hind wings narrow, undeveloped and acute, triangular; the four of pure white, silky, with a vague border, ochraceous. |
| Forewings | Forewings having two strips of a beautiful yellow ocher, without edging, straight, parallel, wide apart: the first with a reentrant point in the middle; the second joining the terminal border by a line towards the middle and joining it further to the internal angle. A strong cell spot of the same yellow, between the two lines, and at equal distance. Hind wings with an extracellular point and a short anal litter of the same yellow. (Guenée, 1854) See Fernald (1887) in References below which has a very different description. |
Where is Leptosteges xantholeucalis - Hodges#5300 found?
Range: Mississippi to Florida and North Carolina; Cuba. Type locality: Georgia