Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066
Pyrausta arizonicalis
This record describes Pyrausta arizonicalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Pyrausta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western Texas to Arizona. ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April to November. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: pyr is the Greek word for fire and represents the reddish coloring in the genus.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta arizonicalis. 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 Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066
What is Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066?
Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066 (Pyrausta arizonicalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 4 )
Where is Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066 found?
Range: Western Texas to Arizona. ( 3 )
When is Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066 active?
Pyrausta arizonicalis - Hodges#5066: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April to November. ( 3 ).