Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032
Pyrausta nicalis
This record describes Pyrausta nicalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown tinged with red or purple; PM line whitish, wavy, thin in middle and thick at both ends; AM line and two dark discal spots usually inconspicuous or indistinct; hindwing brownish-gray with white partial PM line that doesn't reach inner margin
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
Habitat
undisturbed areas and boreal forest; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Yukon to Quebec, south to New England, Colorado, and California; type specimen collected in California. ,
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August, but most common in June and July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: unknown but larvae are suspected to feed on one or more species of mint
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta nicalis. 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 nicalis - Hodges#5032 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032
What is Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032?
Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032 (Pyrausta nicalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032?
wingspan 19-23 mm
How do you identify Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown tinged with red or purple; PM line whitish, wavy, thin in middle and thick at both ends; AM line and two dark discal spots usually inconspicuous or indistinct; hindwing brownish-gray with white partial PM line that doesn't reach inner margin
Where is Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | undisturbed areas and boreal forest; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Yukon to Quebec, south to New England, Colorado, and California; type specimen collected in California. |
What does Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032 eat?
The diet of the Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032 includes unknown but larvae are suspected to feed on one or more species of mint.
When is Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032 active?
Pyrausta nicalis - Hodges#5032: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August, but most common in June and July.