Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029
Pyrausta volupialis
This record describes Pyrausta volupialis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Identification notes
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
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
Powell & Opler (2009) reports Texas to southern California spreading northward to San Francisco, Colorado. ( 3 ) Powell et al. (2000) report expanding range from original range of southern California. ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler (2009) reports year round. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2009) reports the larval hosts are in the mint family (Lamiaceae). ( 3 ) Powell et al. (2000) reports larvae have been found on and reared on Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) Lamiaceae. ( 4 )
Life History
Larva:
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Volupia is Latin for "pleasant".
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta volupialis. 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 Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Chatfield-Taylor; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029
What is Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029?
Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029 (Pyrausta volupialis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029?
Powell & Opler (2009) lists the forewing length 8-10.5 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029 found?
Range: Powell & Opler (2009) reports Texas to southern California spreading northward to San Francisco, Colorado. ( 3 ) Powell et al. (2000) report expanding range from original range of southern California. ( 4 )
What does Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029 eat?
The diet of the Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029 includes Powell & Opler (2009) reports the larval hosts are in the mint family (Lamiaceae). ( 3 ) Powell et al. (2000) reports larvae have been found on and reared on Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) Lamiaceae. ( 4 ).
When is Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029 active?
Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler (2009) reports year round. ( 3 ).
What is the life cycle of a Volupial Pyrausta Moth - Hodges#5029?
Larva: