LepidopteraPyralidae – Pyralid Moths

Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1

Moodnodes plorella

This record describes Moodnodes plorella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Similar in appearance and size to species of Ephestiodes and Australephestiodes . Dark, broad outer band of forewing AM line is distinctive.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Pyraloidea
Family
Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
Subfamily
Phycitinae
Tribe
Phycitini
Genus
Moodnodes

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Florida

Seasonal Activity

February to May in central Florida; August in Florida Keys

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Moodnodes plorella. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Frequently Asked Questions About Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1

What is Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1?

Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1 (Moodnodes plorella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1?

forewing length = 5.0-7.0 mm

How do you identify Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1?

Similar in appearance and size to species of Ephestiodes and Australephestiodes . Dark, broad outer band of forewing AM line is distinctive.

Where is Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1 found?

Range: Florida

When is Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1 active?

Moodnodes plorella - Hodges#6074.1: seasonal activity - February to May in central Florida; August in Florida Keys.