LepidopteraCrambidae – Crambid Snout Moths

Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075

Pyrausta socialis

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

Identification and Appearance

Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 - Pyrausta socialis
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Forewings are reddish to pinkish brown with a purplish tinge. prominent dark subterminal band

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

British Columbia to Ontario and south to Colorado and California.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: larval host unknown but mint species are suspect

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta socialis. 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 Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 (5)

Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075

What is Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075?

Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 (Pyrausta socialis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075?

Wingspan 22-25 mm.

How do you identify Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075?

Forewings are reddish to pinkish brown with a purplish tinge. prominent dark subterminal band

Where is Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 found?

Range: British Columbia to Ontario and south to Colorado and California.

What does Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 eat?

The diet of the Sociable Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5075 includes larval host unknown but mint species are suspect.

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.