Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045
Peoria opacella
This record describes Peoria opacella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Anerastia opacella Hulst is available online in the print references below. Adult: Head and thorax fuscous brown Forewing inner margin half is blackish-gray Forewing costal half is lighter near white and dusted with darker scales Hindwing has light brownish tint
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Peoriini
- Genus
- Peoria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Brownsville, TX to Arizona
Seasonal Activity
March thru September
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Peoria opacella. 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 Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045
What is Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045?
Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045 (Peoria opacella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045?
Wingspan about 22 mm.
How do you identify Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045?
The original description as Anerastia opacella Hulst is available online in the print references below. Adult: Head and thorax fuscous brown Forewing inner margin half is blackish-gray Forewing costal half is lighter near white and dusted with darker scales Hindwing has light brownish tint
Where is Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045 found?
Range: Brownsville, TX to Arizona
When is Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045 active?
Peoria opacella - Hodges#6045: seasonal activity - March thru September.