Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979
Rumatha bihinda
This record describes Rumatha bihinda (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dyar original description as Zophodia bihinda is online in the print references. Heinrich and Heinrich descriptions of the adult, including genitalia, are both in PDF. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Rumatha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Powell & Opler reported California to western Texas and Mexico. Holotype from Jemez Springs, Sandoval County, New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler reported a flight period of May to August. Moth Photographers Group displays records for March and the latest of September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler stated the larval host unknown but other members of the genus feed on Cylindropuntia chollas (cholla cactus).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rumatha bihinda. 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 Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979
What is Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979?
Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979 (Rumatha bihinda) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979?
Heinrich listed the wingspan 30-35 mm. Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 14.5-16 mm.
How do you identify Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979?
Dyar original description as Zophodia bihinda is online in the print references. Heinrich and Heinrich descriptions of the adult, including genitalia, are both in PDF. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979 found?
Range: Powell & Opler reported California to western Texas and Mexico. Holotype from Jemez Springs, Sandoval County, New Mexico.
What does Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979 eat?
The diet of the Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979 includes Powell & Opler stated the larval host unknown but other members of the genus feed on Cylindropuntia chollas (cholla cactus)..
When is Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979 active?
Rumatha bihinda - Hodges#5979: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler reported a flight period of May to August. Moth Photographers Group displays records for March and the latest of September..