Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394
Platytes vobisne
This record describes Platytes vobisne (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing silvery-white with several dark brown lines, including zigzag PM and ST lines; hindwing dark gray; fringes of both wings long, silvery
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Platytes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wet grasslands/prairies
Geographic Range
Internet records from scattered locations: Connecticut, Michigan, Ontario, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Alberta
Seasonal Activity
the few Internet records available are all in late June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae presumably feed on one or more species of grass
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Platytes vobisne. 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 Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394
What is Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394?
Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394 (Platytes vobisne) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394?
wingspan 12-13 mm
How do you identify Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394?
Adult: forewing silvery-white with several dark brown lines, including zigzag PM and ST lines; hindwing dark gray; fringes of both wings long, silvery
Where is Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wet grasslands/prairies |
| Range | Internet records from scattered locations: Connecticut, Michigan, Ontario, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Alberta |
What does Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394 eat?
The diet of the Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394 includes larvae presumably feed on one or more species of grass.
When is Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394 active?
Platytes Moth - Hodges#5394: seasonal activity - the few Internet records available are all in late June.