Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029
Menestomorpha kimballi
This record describes Menestomorpha kimballi (species). Recorded family: Stenomatidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing: Ground color white with three large shaded areas along the costa. Rows of transverse dark dots along terminal and subterminal area. Dark patch of raised scales at inner margin of wing base.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Stenomatidae
- Genus
- Menestomorpha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida. ( 4 ) Holotype Siesta Key, Sarasota County, Florida, 24-I-1954. ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group map
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been recorded year round in Florida. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species named in honor of C. P. Kimball who provided the specimens for the original description.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Menestomorpha kimballi. 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 Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029
What is Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029?
Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029 (Menestomorpha kimballi) is a species in the family Stenomatidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029?
Wingspan 17-19 mm.
How do you identify Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029?
Forewing: Ground color white with three large shaded areas along the costa. Rows of transverse dark dots along terminal and subterminal area. Dark patch of raised scales at inner margin of wing base.
Where is Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029 found?
Range: Florida. ( 4 ) Holotype Siesta Key, Sarasota County, Florida, 24-I-1954. ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group map
When is Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029 active?
Menestomorpha kimballi - Hodges#1029: seasonal activity - Adults have been recorded year round in Florida. ( 3 ).