Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795
Microtheoris vibicalis
This record describes Microtheoris vibicalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white or cream-colored with broad maroon AM and PM lines; AM line oblique, almost parallel to costa; PM line parallel to outer margin; fringe and strip along inner margin maroon; hindwing gray with long fringe of hairlike scales Type locality: [USA] Texas
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Odontiinae
- Tribe
- Odontiini
- Genus
- Microtheoris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas north to Kansas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to September in Texas and starting about June in Kansas
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: vib, -ic is Latin for a whip mark
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Microtheoris vibicalis. 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 Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795
What is Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795?
Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795 (Microtheoris vibicalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795?
wingspan about 11 mm.
How do you identify Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795?
Adult: forewing white or cream-colored with broad maroon AM and PM lines; AM line oblique, almost parallel to costa; PM line parallel to outer margin; fringe and strip along inner margin maroon; hindwing gray with long fringe of hairlike scales
Where is Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795 found?
Range: Texas north to Kansas
When is Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795 active?
Whip-marked Snout Moth - Hodges#4795: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to September in Texas and starting about June in Kansas.