Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826
Mimoschinia rufofascialis
This record describes Mimoschinia rufofascialis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - strikingly beautiful. General body color is white, front half wine-red with partial bands of that color posteriorly. Rather like a barberpole, as its commom name suggests. Head is light yellow (adapted from Heinrich, 1921). Larvae are host for the braconid wasp Bracon mellitor . ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Odontiinae
- Tribe
- Eurrhypini
- Genus
- Mimoschinia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ontario; Alberta and British Columbia, south to Texas, west to California (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly April to June in the mountains and coastal areas, August to September in deserts.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva is a seed-feeder of various Malvaceous plants. Heinrich reported them on Indian mallow ( Abutilon ), false mallow ( Malvastrum ), wissadula ( Wissadula ), fanpetals ( Sida ). Powell & Opler add holleyhock ( Alcea ) and mallow ( Malvella ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: rufo (rufous-colored) + fascia (bands); refers to the reddish-colored bands on the forewing, and is the origin of the common name Rufous-banded Crambid.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mimoschinia rufofascialis. 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 Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Jason D. Roberts , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , lee_penner , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826
What is Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826?
Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826 (Mimoschinia rufofascialis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826?
Forewing length 6-11 mm.
How do you identify Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826?
Larva - strikingly beautiful. General body color is white, front half wine-red with partial bands of that color posteriorly. Rather like a barberpole, as its commom name suggests. Head is light yellow (adapted from Heinrich, 1921).
Where is Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826 found?
Range: Ontario; Alberta and British Columbia, south to Texas, west to California (E.H. Strickland Museum).
What does Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826 eat?
The diet of the Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826 includes Larva is a seed-feeder of various Malvaceous plants. Heinrich reported them on Indian mallow ( Abutilon ), false mallow ( Malvastrum ), wissadula ( Wissadula ), fanpetals ( Sida ). Powell & Opler add holleyhock ( Alcea ) and mallow ( Malvella )..
When is Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826 active?
Rufous-banded Crambid - Hodges#4826: seasonal activity - Adults fly April to June in the mountains and coastal areas, August to September in deserts..