Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759
Parapoynx maculalis
This record describes Parapoynx maculalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW grayish brown, boldly marked with large white spots. Darker individual are uniformly gray or brown.
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
Geographic Range
Eastern half of North America. , Type locality: Lake Teedyuskung, Lackawaxen Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Various aquatic plants.
Life History
See Welch (1916) for an interesting account of the life history of this moth.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Parapoynx maculalis. 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 Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759
What is Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759?
Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759 (Parapoynx maculalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759?
TL 8-15mm
How do you identify Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759?
Adult : FW grayish brown, boldly marked with large white spots. Darker individual are uniformly gray or brown.
Where is Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759 found?
Range: Eastern half of North America. , Type locality: Lake Teedyuskung, Lackawaxen Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.
What does Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759 eat?
The diet of the Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759 includes Various aquatic plants..
What is the life cycle of a Polymorphic Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4759?
See Welch (1916) for an interesting account of the life history of this moth.