LepidopteraPyralidae – Pyralid Moths

Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966

Rhagea packardella

This record describes Rhagea packardella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966 - Rhagea packardella
Contributed by Steve Morris

Description can be found in MONA Fascicle 15-4 at link in citations below.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Pyraloidea
Family
Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
Subfamily
Phycitinae
Tribe
Phycitini
Genus
Rhagea

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

western United States

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rhagea packardella. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966

What is Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966?

Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966 (Rhagea packardella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966?

forewing length 7.5-10.0 mm

How do you identify Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966?

Description can be found in MONA Fascicle 15-4 at link in citations below.

Where is Rhagea packardella - Hodges#5966 found?

Range: western United States

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.