Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382
Neodactria murellus
This record describes Neodactria murellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Neodactria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
tallgrass prairies
Geographic Range
Type locality: USA: Washington, Pullman.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is thought to be various grass species. (Poaceae) Landry 1995
Life History
unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neodactria murellus. 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 Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382
What is Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382?
Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382 (Neodactria murellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | tallgrass prairies |
| Range | Type locality: USA: Washington, Pullman. |
What does Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382 eat?
The diet of the Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382 includes larval host is thought to be various grass species. (Poaceae) Landry 1995.
What is the life cycle of a Neodactria murellus - Hodges#5382?
unknown