Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538
Parachma ochracealis
This record describes Parachma ochracealis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, yellowish-gray, or grayish-brown, slightly flared near base, giving shouldered appearance; AM and PM lines pale yellow, almost straight; terminal line dark reddish-brown; fringe pale yellow; hindwing light to medium orangish-brown, usually darker than forewing; fringe pale yellow; at rest, wings are held parallel to the substrate, not roof-like over the abdomen; legs are held at right-angles from the body, displaying heavy scale tufts on tibiae and tarsi specimens in the southeast are usually darker, more reddish, and smaller; western specimens are usually paler, more yellowish, and larger; specimens along the gulf coast tend to be grayish-brown, but there is a continuous gradation of color and size among and between all forms> [adapted from description by Everett Cashatt] DNA barcode data indicate a species complex: BOLD:AAC7982 [NC, FL, OK] BOLD:ABY8053 [FL (Keys)] BOLD:ABY9465 [FL (Everglades, Archbold)] BOLD:ACE3716 [FL, TX]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chrysauginae
- Genus
- Parachma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern United States, west to Arizona, north in the east to coastal plain of Maryland (see distribution map on page 6.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from March to September, but nearly year round in the southern areas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval food and habits unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Parachma ochracealis. 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 Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538
What is Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538?
Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538 (Parachma ochracealis) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538?
Wingspan 13-23 mm.
How do you identify Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538?
Adult: forewing variably yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, yellowish-gray, or grayish-brown, slightly flared near base, giving shouldered appearance; AM and PM lines pale yellow, almost straight; terminal line dark reddish-brown; fringe pale yellow; hindwing light to medium orangish-brown, usually darker than forewing; fringe pale yellow; at rest, wings are held parallel to the substrate, not roof-like over the abdomen; legs are held at right-angles from the body, displaying heavy scale tufts on tibiae and tarsi specimens in the southeast are usually darker, more reddish, and smaller; western specimens are usually paler, more yellowish, and larger; specimens along the gulf coast tend to be grayish-brown, but there is a continuous gradation of color and size among and between all forms> [adapted from description by Everett Cashatt]
Where is Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538 found?
Range: Southern United States, west to Arizona, north in the east to coastal plain of Maryland (see distribution map on page 6.
What does Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538 eat?
The diet of the Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538 includes Larval food and habits unknown..
When is Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538 active?
Parachma Moth - Hodges#5538: seasonal activity - Most records are from March to September, but nearly year round in the southern areas..