Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3
Melitara apicigrammella
This record describes Melitara apicigrammella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The only Melitara with short black longitudinal lines in the terminal area of the forewing. The other species have black dots in the terminal area.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Melitara (Pricklypear Borer)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The species is only known from Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas, and Terrell County, Texas. ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been collected April to June, and August-September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Blanchard & Knudson (1985) did not mention a host plant. Many of the Melitara are cactus feeders.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melitara apicigrammella. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3
What is Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3?
Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3 (Melitara apicigrammella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3?
Blanchard & Knudson listed the forewing length: ♂ 10.4-11.8 mm. ♀ 10.1-12 mm.
How do you identify Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3?
The only Melitara with short black longitudinal lines in the terminal area of the forewing. The other species have black dots in the terminal area.
Where is Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3 found?
Range: The species is only known from Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas, and Terrell County, Texas. ,
What does Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3 eat?
The diet of the Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3 includes Blanchard & Knudson (1985) did not mention a host plant. Many of the Melitara are cactus feeders..
When is Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3 active?
Melitara apicigrammella - Hodges#5971.3: seasonal activity - Adults have been collected April to June, and August-September..