Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222
Palpita arsaltealis
This record describes Palpita arsaltealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light grayish-brown with heavy dark speckling; irregular dark patches in median and basal areas; hindwing similar but lacks large dark patches page creation based on Brian Scholtens' identification of images here and here
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Margaroniini
- Genus
- Palpita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
northeastern United States, south to South Carolina, plus Quebec and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from spring to late summer
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Palpita arsaltealis. 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 Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by cotinis , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222
What is Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222?
Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222 (Palpita arsaltealis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222?
wingspan about 16 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG wingspan of one individual ( here ) measured at 19 mm
How do you identify Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222?
Adult: forewing light grayish-brown with heavy dark speckling; irregular dark patches in median and basal areas; hindwing similar but lacks large dark patches
Where is Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222 found?
Range: northeastern United States, south to South Carolina, plus Quebec and Ontario
When is Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222 active?
Palpita arsaltealis - Hodges#5222: seasonal activity - adults fly from spring to late summer.