Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004
Loxostege munroealis
This record describes Loxostege munroealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing fringe scales black, contrasting with thin yellowish band along outer margin; ground color yellowish-brown with patchwork pattern of light and dark blotches; PM line very wavy, with a pale area distal to the line where it meets the costa; at rest, outline of moth is triangular Larva: pale green when young, becoming olive-green and then black with age; black dorsal stripe with two pale stripes on either side, and two rows of paired circular marks
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
fields, gardens, waste places
Geographic Range
Manitoba to Texas and westward; sporadic eastward to the New England states Holotype: "USA, Colombie Britannique, Rutland Bay". Paratypes: USA: MD, CO; Canada: Riding Mt. Natl. Park, MT, Dunnville, ON.
Seasonal Activity
adults from May to September larvae from June to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on wormwood and mugwort ( Artemisia spp.), beets, sugarbeets, canola, flax, and spinach
Life History
two generations per year; larvae overwinter in soil and pupate within silken cocoons in the soil in late spring; first generation adults emerge in May
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Loxostege munroealis Leraut, 2005, n. sp., Nouv. Rev. Entomol., 22: 134. This name applies to the North American species formerly treated as Loxostege sticticalis (Linnaeus, 1761) in Munroe .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Loxostege munroealis. 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 Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004
What is Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004?
Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004 (Loxostege munroealis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004?
wingspan 24-29 mm larvae to 40 mm
How do you identify Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004?
Adult: forewing fringe scales black, contrasting with thin yellowish band along outer margin; ground color yellowish-brown with patchwork pattern of light and dark blotches; PM line very wavy, with a pale area distal to the line where it meets the costa; at rest, outline of moth is triangular Larva: pale green when young, becoming olive-green and then black with age; black dorsal stripe with two pale stripes on either side, and two rows of paired circular marks
Where is Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, gardens, waste places |
| Range | Manitoba to Texas and westward; sporadic eastward to the New England states Holotype: USA, Colombie Britannique, Rutland Bay. Paratypes: USA: MD, CO; Canada: Riding Mt. Natl. Park, MT, Dunnville, ON. |
What does Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004 eat?
The diet of the Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004 includes larvae feed on wormwood and mugwort ( Artemisia spp.), beets, sugarbeets, canola, flax, and spinach.
When is Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004 active?
Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004: seasonal activity - adults from May to September larvae from June to October.
What is the life cycle of a Beet Webworm Moth - Hodges#5004?
two generations per year; larvae overwinter in soil and pupate within silken cocoons in the soil in late spring; first generation adults emerge in May