Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179
Penestola bufalis
This record describes Penestola bufalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brown to brownish-gray with indistinct lines showing little contrast against ground color; dense speckling may give a smudged appearance; PM line jagged, irregular, with deep notch in middle, and large tooth near costa; hindwing similarly colored and with no prominent markings page creation based on Brian Scholtens' identification of this image , as reported by Bob Patterson
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Steniini
- Genus
- Penestola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
neotropical: South America, Galapagos Islands, Florida, Antilles
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Penestola bufalis. 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 Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Jeff Hollenbeck , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179
What is Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179?
Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179 (Penestola bufalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179?
wingspan about 20 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179?
Adult: forewing dark brown to brownish-gray with indistinct lines showing little contrast against ground color; dense speckling may give a smudged appearance; PM line jagged, irregular, with deep notch in middle, and large tooth near costa; hindwing similarly colored and with no prominent markings
Where is Black Penestola Moth - Hodges#5179 found?
Range: neotropical: South America, Galapagos Islands, Florida, Antilles