Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443
Thaumatopsis floridella
This record describes Thaumatopsis floridella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description of Thaumatopsis fernaldella Kearfott, is available online in the print references below. The specimen he described from Key West as possibly being a form of fernaldella is believed to be floridella .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Thaumatopsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Coastal areas from New Jersey to Florida and Texas. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from May to September. , Heppner lists Florida records from January to May; August to September; November to December.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on grasses (Gramineae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thaumatopsis floridella. 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 Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443
What is Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443?
Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443 (Thaumatopsis floridella) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443?
Wingspan 23-31 mm. ,
How do you identify Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443?
The original description of Thaumatopsis fernaldella Kearfott, is available online in the print references below. The specimen he described from Key West as possibly being a form of fernaldella is believed to be floridella .
Where is Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443 found?
Range: Coastal areas from New Jersey to Florida and Texas. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443 eat?
The diet of the Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443 includes Larvae feed on grasses (Gramineae)..
When is Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443 active?
Floridian Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5443: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from May to September. , Heppner lists Florida records from January to May; August to September; November to December..