Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268
Psara obscuralis
This record describes Psara obscuralis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dull yellowish to brown with dark AM and PM lines; AM line almost straight, slightly curved near inner margin; PM line convoluted, situated fairly close to outer margin, with convex multi-toothed lobe in upper half and concave single-toothed lobe in lower half; dark rectangular reniform spot touches or almost touches concave portion of PM line; light brownish shading in subterminal area is diffuse and does not form a distinct subterminal line; hindwing similar to forewing in color and markings but lacks AM line and is paler toward base larvae are hosts of the endoparasitoid braconid wasp Alabagrus roibasi in Costa Rica
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Asciodini
- Genus
- Psara
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
eastern United States: Maryland to Florida, west to at least Texas and Illinois
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to late August or September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Guinea Henweed ( Petiveria alliacea ) in Costa Rica and probably within the plant's restricted North American range of Texas and Florida. American pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, appears to be the main host in North America.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Psara obscuralis. 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 Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Ken Childs , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268
What is Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268?
Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268 (Psara obscuralis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268?
wingspan about 23 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268?
Adult: forewing dull yellowish to brown with dark AM and PM lines; AM line almost straight, slightly curved near inner margin; PM line convoluted, situated fairly close to outer margin, with convex multi-toothed lobe in upper half and concave single-toothed lobe in lower half; dark rectangular reniform spot touches or almost touches concave portion of PM line; light brownish shading in subterminal area is diffuse and does not form a distinct subterminal line; hindwing similar to forewing in color and markings but lacks AM line and is paler toward base
Where is Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268 found?
Range: eastern United States: Maryland to Florida, west to at least Texas and Illinois
What does Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268 eat?
The diet of the Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268 includes larvae feed on Guinea Henweed ( Petiveria alliacea ) in Costa Rica and probably within the plant's restricted North American range of Texas and Florida. American pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, appears to be the main host in North America..
When is Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268 active?
Obscure Psara - Hodges#5268: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to late August or September.