Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993
Loxostege albiceralis
This record describes Loxostege albiceralis (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
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Loxostege
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Arid areas and deserts.
Geographic Range
Southern California and Nevada to Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae in Texas have been reared on Lycium carolinianum (wolfberry). , Other Lycium are likely hosts where carolinianum does not occur.
Life History
Hepner (1975) has notes on Loxostege floridalis , formerly a subspecies of albiceralis . ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Loxostege albiceralis. 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 Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993
How big is Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993?
Forewing length 13-18 mm.
Where is Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid areas and deserts. |
| Range | Southern California and Nevada to Texas. |
What does Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993 eat?
The diet of the Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993 includes Larvae in Texas have been reared on Lycium carolinianum (wolfberry). , Other Lycium are likely hosts where carolinianum does not occur..
What is the life cycle of a Loxostege albiceralis - Hodges#4993?
Hepner (1975) has notes on Loxostege floridalis , formerly a subspecies of albiceralis . ( 3 )