Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426
Microcrambus croesus
This record describes Microcrambus croesus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The FWs are mostly silvery white with a dark brown curved patch on the dorsum, dark brown along the costal margin, and an oblique dark streak off the costa in the postmedian area. The subterminal line consists of a pair of (usually) obscure thin brown lines. The teriminal line is dark and continuous (not a series of dots).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Microcrambus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western, central and southern Texas; Florida; Mexico. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight periods appear to be April-May and August-October (MPG, iNaturalist records). Heppner (2003) reports May; August in Florida. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host is various grass species (Gramineae). ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Microcrambus croesus. 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 Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426
What is Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426?
Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426 (Microcrambus croesus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426?
Forewing length: 7.5 mm , i.e. large compared to most of the rest of the genus which have FW 5.0 to 6.5 mm.
How do you identify Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426?
The FWs are mostly silvery white with a dark brown curved patch on the dorsum, dark brown along the costal margin, and an oblique dark streak off the costa in the postmedian area. The subterminal line consists of a pair of (usually) obscure thin brown lines. The teriminal line is dark and continuous (not a series of dots).
Where is Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426 found?
Range: Western, central and southern Texas; Florida; Mexico. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426 eat?
The diet of the Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426 includes The larval host is various grass species (Gramineae). ( 4 ).
When is Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426 active?
Microcrambus croesus - Hodges#5426: seasonal activity - The main flight periods appear to be April-May and August-October (MPG, iNaturalist records). Heppner (2003) reports May; August in Florida. ( 4 ).