Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281
Pilocrocis ramentalis
This record describes Pilocrocis ramentalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with slightly irregular white AM line and sinuous white PM line edged in black; PM line has squarish convex lobe near middle; reniform spot a small white arc, edged basally in black; hindwing grayish-brown with a single white (PM) line having squarish convex lobe near middle
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Herpetogrammatini
- Genus
- Pilocrocis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open woods, clearings, damp areas where foodplant grows; adults are nocturnal and come to light.
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include Ontario to Florida, Wisconsin to Texas; Mexico. Moth Photographers Group map The range extends to South America.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is August to October. Heppner reported February to December.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner reported the larvae feed on Boehmeria species including B. cylindrica and Odontonema strictum . Other known hosts include Pachystachys spicata (cardinal's guard) and P. coccinea in the far south.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: RAMENTALIS: from the Latin "ramentum" (a chip, shaving, scale) - from "radere" (to scrape); this is the origin of the common name Scraped Pilocrocis. The original description refers to what seems to translate as a "mane of hair with flat, fish-scale-like little leaves(flakes?) lying on it" as a covering at the front edge of the wing near the base.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pilocrocis ramentalis. 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 Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281
What is Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281?
Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281 (Pilocrocis ramentalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281?
Wingspan 24-29 mm.
How do you identify Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with slightly irregular white AM line and sinuous white PM line edged in black; PM line has squarish convex lobe near middle; reniform spot a small white arc, edged basally in black; hindwing grayish-brown with a single white (PM) line having squarish convex lobe near middle
Where is Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open woods, clearings, damp areas where foodplant grows; adults are nocturnal and come to light. |
| Range | Heppner reported the range to include Ontario to Florida, Wisconsin to Texas; Mexico. Moth Photographers Group map The range extends to South America. |
What does Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281 eat?
The diet of the Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281 includes Heppner reported the larvae feed on Boehmeria species including B. cylindrica and Odontonema strictum . Other known hosts include Pachystachys spicata (cardinal's guard) and P. coccinea in the far south..
When is Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281 active?
Scraped Pilocrocis - Hodges#5281: seasonal activity - The main flight period is August to October. Heppner reported February to December..