Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150
Samea castellalis
This record describes Samea castellalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with three groups of several white spots in AM, median, and PM areas; male has larger spots than female, and/or less extensive brown areas between spots, due to smaller wing; middle of fringe has dark gray shading and larger dark marks than along remainder of fringe; hindwing in male has large white patches covering most of basal two-thirds, with thin dark median line and row of three white spots near outer margin; hindwing in female is similar except for thick dark median line and two rows of white spots near outer margin male/female compared note the costal margin specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD) from Mark Dreiling Type locality: Brazil. Colombia. French Guiana, Cayenne
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Nomophilini
- Genus
- Samea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas, and south in the neotropics to Brazil.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly most of the year in the far south.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Has been reared from Richardia brasiliensis .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Samea castellalis Guenée, 1854 includes as a synonym Samea ecclesialis of authors not Guenée, 1854 in Landry (2016; pp. 372–373). True ecclesialis is not found north of Mexico.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Samea castellalis. 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 Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Dennis Profant; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Blocky , Arturo Santos
Frequently Asked Questions About Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150
What is Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150?
Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150 (Samea castellalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150?
Wingspan of female about 20 mm with the males noticeably smaller.
How do you identify Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with three groups of several white spots in AM, median, and PM areas; male has larger spots than female, and/or less extensive brown areas between spots, due to smaller wing; middle of fringe has dark gray shading and larger dark marks than along remainder of fringe; hindwing in male has large white patches covering most of basal two-thirds, with thin dark median line and row of three white spots near outer margin; hindwing in female is similar except for thick dark median line and two rows of white spots near outer margin male/female compared note the costal margin specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD) from Mark Dreiling
Where is Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150 found?
Range: North Carolina to Florida, west to Texas, and south in the neotropics to Brazil.
What does Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150 eat?
The diet of the Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150 includes Has been reared from Richardia brasiliensis ..
When is Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150 active?
Stained-glass Moth - Hodges#5150: seasonal activity - Adults fly most of the year in the far south..