LepidopteraCrambidae – Crambid Snout Moths

Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023

Pyrausta napaealis

This record describes Pyrausta napaealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 - Pyrausta napaealis
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).

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

California to Texas, north to Washington. ,

Seasonal Activity

April to May in the south, later in the north ( 4 )

Diet and Behavior

Diet: The larval host plant is unknown.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta napaealis. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 (5)

Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023

What is Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023?

Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 (Pyrausta napaealis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023?

The wingspan averages 17-22 mm. Hulst (1886) reported a wingspan of 22 mm.

How do you identify Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023?

Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).

Where is Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 found?

Range: California to Texas, north to Washington. ,

What does Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 eat?

The diet of the Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 includes The larval host plant is unknown..

When is Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023 active?

Pyrausta napaealis - Hodges#5023: seasonal activity - April to May in the south, later in the north ( 4 ).

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.