Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941
Oenobotys texanalis
This record describes Oenobotys texanalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
From Munroe & Blanchard's original description : Similar in general appearance to O. vinotinctalis , but larger (FW 9 mm); FW wider, with apex sharper and termen less strongly convex; transverse lines of FW finer and less blurred; both FW and HW with basal part of fringe fuscous, distal part contrastingly white. The fringes on vinotinctalis have distal parts buff, not contrastingly white. On worn specimens or in photography on a pale background, the white distal part of the fringe on texanalis can be difficult to see, but images on MPG and BOLD suggest that the dark base of the fringe may also be wider, leading some observers to suggest that the fringe has an overall darker appearance. [V. Bugh, A. Hendrickson] The original description is available in Munroe's 1976 MONA fascicle 13.2A .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Oenobotys
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
West Texas (Jeff Davis and Brewster Cos.) ; the type locality is Fort Davis, TX. BG observations apparently extend the range E in the Hill Country to Terrell and Edwards counties. A December record in Travis County may be a stray.
Seasonal Activity
Specimens and images are from April, July, and October, with one report in December (see above).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oenobotys texanalis. 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 Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , A. Hendrickson , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941
What is Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941?
Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941 (Oenobotys texanalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941?
FW 9 mm.
How do you identify Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941?
From Munroe & Blanchard's original description : Similar in general appearance to O. vinotinctalis , but larger (FW 9 mm); FW wider, with apex sharper and termen less strongly convex; transverse lines of FW finer and less blurred; both FW and HW with basal part of fringe fuscous, distal part contrastingly white. The fringes on vinotinctalis have distal parts buff, not contrastingly white. On worn specimens or in photography on a pale background, the white distal part of the fringe on texanalis can be difficult to see, but images on MPG and BOLD suggest that the dark base of the fringe may also be wider, leading some observers to suggest that the fringe has an overall darker appearance. [V. Bugh, A. Hendrickson]
Where is Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941 found?
Range: West Texas (Jeff Davis and Brewster Cos.) ; the type locality is Fort Davis, TX. BG observations apparently extend the range E in the Hill Country to Terrell and Edwards counties. A December record in Travis County may be a stray.
When is Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941 active?
Oenobotys texanalis - Hodges#4941: seasonal activity - Specimens and images are from April, July, and October, with one report in December (see above)..