Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239
Terastia meticulosalis
This record describes Terastia meticulosalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Margaroniini
- Genus
- Terastia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Tropical species that ranges north to the US from Florida to California.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are July to September. Adults fly year round in Florida. Arizona first flight starts in June.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae consume the pods of native species and commercially grown Erythrina (Fabaceae). ,
Life History
See complete life history by Sourakov, 2011.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Terastia meticulosalis. 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 Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239
How big is Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239?
Forewing length 16.5-23 mm.
Where is Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239 found?
Range: Tropical species that ranges north to the US from Florida to California.
What does Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239 eat?
The diet of the Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239 includes Larvae consume the pods of native species and commercially grown Erythrina (Fabaceae). ,.
When is Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239 active?
Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239: seasonal activity - Most records are July to September. Adults fly year round in Florida. Arizona first flight starts in June..
What is the life cycle of a Erythrina borer - Hodges#5239?
See complete life history by Sourakov, 2011.