Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243
Patania silicalis
This record describes Patania silicalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish-gray to orangish with dark gray AM and PM lines; AM line slightly ragged but almost straight; PM line toothed, with deep right-angled jog toward base in lower half; discal spot a dark gray crescent, sometimes faint; hindwing has similar color and markings but lacks AM line. Genitalia: Type locality: Cayenne
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Agroterini
- Genus
- Patania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and New York, south to Florida. Also occurs south through Central and South America to Brazil. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in summer in North America.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been collected and reared on Convolvulaceae ( Ipomoea batatas , Ipomoea setifera , Merremia umbellata ), and Rivinia humilis , according to this reference (Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 52, 1998, 217-219). also reported on Bougainvillea species in South America
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Patania silicalis. 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 Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243
What is Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243?
Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243 (Patania silicalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243?
Wingspan about 24-26 mm.
How do you identify Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243?
Adult: forewing yellowish-gray to orangish with dark gray AM and PM lines; AM line slightly ragged but almost straight; PM line toothed, with deep right-angled jog toward base in lower half; discal spot a dark gray crescent, sometimes faint; hindwing has similar color and markings but lacks AM line. Genitalia:
Where is Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243 found?
Range: Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and New York, south to Florida. Also occurs south through Central and South America to Brazil. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243 eat?
The diet of the Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243 includes Larvae have been collected and reared on Convolvulaceae ( Ipomoea batatas , Ipomoea setifera , Merremia umbellata ), and Rivinia humilis , according to this reference (Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 52, 1998, 217-219). also reported on Bougainvillea species in South America.
When is Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243 active?
Herbivorous Pleuroptya Moth - Hodges#5243: seasonal activity - Adults fly in summer in North America..