Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761
Parapoynx badiusalis
This record describes Parapoynx badiusalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Aberrant individuals:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acentropinae
- Tribe
- Nymphulini
- Genus
- Parapoynx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The larvae are found in vegetated ponds, marshes, lakeshores with emergent aquatic plants; adults on vegetation bordering these habitats.
Geographic Range
Beadle & Leckie reported southeastern Canada and eastern United States.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is May to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Habeck reported larvae reared on largeleaf pondweed, whitestem pondweed, Richardson pondweed, flatstem pondweed, and northern milfoil. Habeck mentions other hosts are likely.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Parapoynx badiusalis. 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 Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Fyn Kynd , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761
How big is Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761?
Wingspan about 20 mm.
How do you identify Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761?
Aberrant individuals:
Where is Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | The larvae are found in vegetated ponds, marshes, lakeshores with emergent aquatic plants; adults on vegetation bordering these habitats. |
| Range | Beadle & Leckie reported southeastern Canada and eastern United States. |
What does Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761 eat?
The diet of the Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761 includes Habeck reported larvae reared on largeleaf pondweed, whitestem pondweed, Richardson pondweed, flatstem pondweed, and northern milfoil. Habeck mentions other hosts are likely..
When is Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761 active?
Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4761: seasonal activity - The main flight period is May to September..