Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857
Nephrogramma reniculalis
This record describes Nephrogramma reniculalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brownish-gray with white reniform spot, noticeably curved or bent in middle; AM line pale, scalloped, indistinct; PM line pale, indistinct, curving around reniform spot and terminating in small wedge at costa; hindwing dark brownish-gray with irregular white markings and diffuse shading in basal half and along inner margin
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Nephrogramma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
eastern United States and Ontario; type specimen collected in Dallas, Texas
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Kidney Moth: a suggested common name based on the meaning of the specific and generic epithets, reniculalis coming from the Latin "ren, renis" (kidney), and Nephrogramma coming from the Greek "nephros" (kidney); I don't know what the describer of the species (Zeller) and the creator of the genus (Munroe) were thinking at the time but apparently it had something to do with kidneys
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nephrogramma reniculalis. 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 Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857
What is Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857?
Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857 (Nephrogramma reniculalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857?
wingspan about 14 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857?
Adult: forewing dark brownish-gray with white reniform spot, noticeably curved or bent in middle; AM line pale, scalloped, indistinct; PM line pale, indistinct, curving around reniform spot and terminating in small wedge at costa; hindwing dark brownish-gray with irregular white markings and diffuse shading in basal half and along inner margin
Where is Kidney Moth - Hodges#4857 found?
Range: eastern United States and Ontario; type specimen collected in Dallas, Texas