Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217
Palpita flegia
This record describes Palpita flegia (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Southern Texas to Florida
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Yellow Oleander, Thevetia peruviana .
Life History
1. Early instar in leaf nest 2. Fourth instar larva 3. Final instar leaf nest 4. Pupa 5. Adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Palpita flegia. 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 Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Alan Chin Lee; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217
Where is Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217 found?
Range: Southern Texas to Florida
What does Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217 eat?
The diet of the Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217 includes Larvae feed on Yellow Oleander, Thevetia peruviana ..
What is the life cycle of a Satin White Moth - Hodges#5217?
1. Early instar in leaf nest 2. Fourth instar larva 3. Final instar leaf nest 4. Pupa 5. Adult