Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865
Megasis edwardsialis
This record describes Megasis edwardsialis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Megaphysis edwardsialis Hulst, and the Heinrich revised description of Sarata edwardsialis (Hulst) are both available online in the print references below. Determined by Brian Scholtens , I dissected and compared to Heinrich's figure and the Neunzig description. The genitalia were more just a confirmation because this species is significantly larger than the other Sarata - forewing about 20mm (based on Neunzig).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Megasis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Colorado, and Washington. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Megasis edwardsialis. 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 Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865
What is Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865?
Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865 (Megasis edwardsialis) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865?
Wingspan to 40 mm.
How do you identify Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865?
The original description as Megaphysis edwardsialis Hulst, and the Heinrich revised description of Sarata edwardsialis (Hulst) are both available online in the print references below. Determined by Brian Scholtens , I dissected and compared to Heinrich's figure and the Neunzig description. The genitalia were more just a confirmation because this species is significantly larger than the other Sarata - forewing about 20mm (based on Neunzig).
Where is Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865 found?
Range: California to Colorado, and Washington. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
What does Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865 eat?
The diet of the Megasis edwardsialis - Hodges#5865 includes Larval host is unknown..