Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151
Samea multiplicalis
This record describes Samea multiplicalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Young larvae are dirty-white to pale yellow, progressing to yellow-green in mature larvae.
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
Southeastern United States west to Louisiana, south to South America.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Generalist feeder first observed on waterhyacinth in Brazil. Used as biological control on several invasive species. Commonly feeds on waterlettuce ( Pistia stratiotes ), Salvinia , water fern ( Azolla caroliniana ), and duckweed ( Lemna sp).
Life History
Eggs laid singly between leaf hairs on host plants. Up to 150 eggs laid over span of 4 to 7 days. Larvae pupate within a silk cocoon in the inflated leaf petioles. Pupation typically lasts 4 to 10 days.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Samea multiplicalis. 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 Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151
What is Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151?
Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151 (Samea multiplicalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151?
Young larvae are dirty-white to pale yellow, progressing to yellow-green in mature larvae.
Where is Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151 found?
Range: Southeastern United States west to Louisiana, south to South America.
What does Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151 eat?
The diet of the Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151 includes Generalist feeder first observed on waterhyacinth in Brazil. Used as biological control on several invasive species. Commonly feeds on waterlettuce ( Pistia stratiotes ), Salvinia , water fern ( Azolla caroliniana ), and duckweed ( Lemna sp)..
What is the life cycle of a Salvinia Stem-borer - Hodges#5151?
Eggs laid singly between leaf hairs on host plants. Up to 150 eggs laid over span of 4 to 7 days. Larvae pupate within a silk cocoon in the inflated leaf petioles. Pupation typically lasts 4 to 10 days.