Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022
Pyrausta zonalis
This record describes Pyrausta zonalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See link to original description by Barnes & McDunnough in print references below. An updated, detailed description is available in MONA Fascicle 13.2B at the link in citations below. Important points from this description include rather noticeably small moth, forewing with acute tip, PM line evenly curved and finely and evenly denticulate (not smooth with irregular curves and angles), no pale adterminal zone, dark line of fringe interrupted. Type locality: USA, California, Riverside Co., Palm Springs
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
drier parts of southern California from Apple Valley to Painted Gorge and east to the Ivanpah and Palo Verde mountains
Seasonal Activity
February to May
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pyrausta zonalis Barnes & McDunnough, 1918
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta zonalis. 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 zonalis - Hodges#5022 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022
What is Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022?
Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022 (Pyrausta zonalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022?
forewing length = 5.5-8.0 mm
How do you identify Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022?
See link to original description by Barnes & McDunnough in print references below. An updated, detailed description is available in MONA Fascicle 13.2B at the link in citations below. Important points from this description include rather noticeably small moth, forewing with acute tip, PM line evenly curved and finely and evenly denticulate (not smooth with irregular curves and angles), no pale adterminal zone, dark line of fringe interrupted.
Where is Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022 found?
Range: drier parts of southern California from Apple Valley to Painted Gorge and east to the Ivanpah and Palo Verde mountains
When is Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022 active?
Pyrausta zonalis - Hodges#5022: seasonal activity - February to May.