Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041
Pyrausta augustalis
This record describes Pyrausta augustalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing orange in basal two-thirds, and dark reddish in distal third; dividing line between these colors is almost straight; no AM line. page creation based on Bob Patterson's identification of this image
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
Texas, from Brownsville and Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge to Sinton and San Antonio, south through Mexico to Central America.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta augustalis. 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 augustalis - Hodges#5041 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041
What is Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041?
Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041 (Pyrausta augustalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041?
wingspan about 18 mm
How do you identify Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041?
Adult: forewing orange in basal two-thirds, and dark reddish in distal third; dividing line between these colors is almost straight; no AM line.
Where is Pyrausta augustalis - Hodges#5041 found?
Range: Texas, from Brownsville and Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge to Sinton and San Antonio, south through Mexico to Central America.