Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288
Marasmia trapezalis
This record describes Marasmia trapezalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
FW middle portion of st. line or shade is more widely separated from the pm. line than in cochrusalis . The HW pm. and st. lines of cochrusalis tend to be more narrowly separated with pm. line bending more toward the apex. The HW pm. line tends to align with the FW st. line in cochrusalis and with the pm. line in trapezalis .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Spilomelini
- Genus
- Marasmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida to Maryland, west at least to Oklahoma (based on this BugGuide image by Mark Dreiling) also occurs in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August in Maryland
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of corn, rice, and other grains; second instar and later larvae fasten leaf margins together with silk, and feed hidden within the rolled leaf
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Marasmia trapezalis (Guenée, 1854), placed by some authors in the genus Cnaphalocrocis , is treated as a member of the genus Marasmia in Shaffer & Munroe (2003:63).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Marasmia trapezalis. 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 Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chuck Sexton , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288
What is Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288?
Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288 (Marasmia trapezalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288?
wingspan about 13 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288?
FW middle portion of st. line or shade is more widely separated from the pm. line than in cochrusalis . The HW pm. and st. lines of cochrusalis tend to be more narrowly separated with pm. line bending more toward the apex. The HW pm. line tends to align with the FW st. line in cochrusalis and with the pm. line in trapezalis .
Where is Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288 found?
Range: Florida to Maryland, west at least to Oklahoma (based on this BugGuide image by Mark Dreiling) also occurs in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia
What does Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288 eat?
The diet of the Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288 includes larvae feed on leaves of corn, rice, and other grains; second instar and later larvae fasten leaf margins together with silk, and feed hidden within the rolled leaf.
When is Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288 active?
Trapeze Moth - Hodges#5288: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August in Maryland.