Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616
Pococera tiltella
This record describes Pococera tiltella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
W[anda] tiltella , n. sp. Expands 20 mm, Head, thorax and fore wings gray, peppered over with black scales, giving a general blackish gray color; basal space somewhat darker than the rest of the fore wings; at the middle of basal field a jet black cross-line not reaching costa or inner margin; inner line light gray, three times dentate inwardly; at the middle of the middle field is another jet black cross-line extending from inner margin nearly to discal spot; outer line straight from costa angulated outwardly, then rounded, wavy dentate, returning near inner margin, then with a single bend reaching the margin. Hind wings dark fuscous. -Texas. Added 11/6/2021 by Ann Hendrickson
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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas. Holotype from Brownsville, Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pococera tiltella. 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 Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , A. Hendrickson , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616
What is Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616?
Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616 (Pococera tiltella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616?
Hulst (1888) listed a wingspan of 20 mm.
How do you identify Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616?
W[anda] tiltella , n. sp. Expands 20 mm, Head, thorax and fore wings gray, peppered over with black scales, giving a general blackish gray color; basal space somewhat darker than the rest of the fore wings; at the middle of basal field a jet black cross-line not reaching costa or inner margin; inner line light gray, three times dentate inwardly; at the middle of the middle field is another jet black cross-line extending from inner margin nearly to discal spot; outer line straight from costa angulated outwardly, then rounded, wavy dentate, returning near inner margin, then with a single bend reaching the margin. Hind wings dark fuscous. -Texas. Added 11/6/2021 by Ann Hendrickson
Where is Pococera tiltella - Hodges#5616 found?
Range: Texas. Holotype from Brownsville, Texas.