Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608
Pococera expandens
This record describes Pococera expandens (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Epipaschiinae
- Genus
- Pococera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: oak
Life History
larva, larval leaf shelter, close-up of larva, adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Walker, 1863
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pococera expandens. 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 Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Dennis Profant; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608
How big is Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608?
Wingspan circa 26 mm
What does Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608 eat?
The diet of the Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608 includes oak.
What is the life cycle of a Double-humped Pococera Moth - Hodges#5608?
larva, larval leaf shelter, close-up of larva, adult