Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781
Petrophila avernalis
This record describes Petrophila avernalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identified by the relatively uniform yellow-brown color of the FWs compared to most other Petrophila 's. Postbasal, median, preapical, and subterminal white lines are usually crisp and prominent but not straight; the median white line is zigzag near the costa; the preapical white streak is often bent outward as it nears the costa; at its inner end, the preapical white streak bends sharply towards the wing base and may completely surroud the tornal wedge of orange. The postmedian area of the FW is often the darkest part of the wing; there is often a white-black-white dash or streak in the discal area of the postmedian portion of the FW. On the HW (rarely visible), Spring Petrophila is one of only two Petrophila species with a row of 7 small black eyespots instead of 5 to 6 large ones; it shares this character with Long-winged Petrophila ( P. longipennis ) but that species has very diffuse pale crosslines on the FW.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acentropinae
- Tribe
- Argyractini
- Genus
- Petrophila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Mexico and Arizona to North Dakota.
Seasonal Activity
Despite its common name (derived from the Latin species epithet), there are records of the species from February to September; earlier and later flights are detected at southerly latitudes (TX, NM) and mid-summer records in Colorado.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Petrophila avernalis. 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 Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781
What is Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781?
Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781 (Petrophila avernalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781?
Identified by the relatively uniform yellow-brown color of the FWs compared to most other Petrophila 's. Postbasal, median, preapical, and subterminal white lines are usually crisp and prominent but not straight; the median white line is zigzag near the costa; the preapical white streak is often bent outward as it nears the costa; at its inner end, the preapical white streak bends sharply towards the wing base and may completely surroud the tornal wedge of orange. The postmedian area of the FW is often the darkest part of the wing; there is often a white-black-white dash or streak in the discal area of the postmedian portion of the FW. On the HW (rarely visible), Spring Petrophila is one of only two Petrophila species with a row of 7 small black eyespots instead of 5 to 6 large ones; it shares this character with Long-winged Petrophila ( P. longipennis ) but that species has very diffuse pale crosslines on the FW.
Where is Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781 found?
Range: New Mexico and Arizona to North Dakota.
When is Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781 active?
Spring Petrophila - Hodges#4781: seasonal activity - Despite its common name (derived from the Latin species epithet), there are records of the species from February to September; earlier and later flights are detected at southerly latitudes (TX, NM) and mid-summer records in Colorado..