Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440
Thaumatopsis magnificus
This record describes Thaumatopsis magnificus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing long and slender with pointed apex, color dull yellow with thick white stripes running length of wing; main stripe begins near base in upper half of wing and splits into two in AM area, each branch splitting again in PM area; another stripe begins near base in lower half of wing and runs straight to anal angle; hindwing uniformly white and very large, about three times width of forewing
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
New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in June and July
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thaumatopsis magnificus. 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 Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440
What is Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440?
Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440 (Thaumatopsis magnificus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440?
wingspan about 25 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440?
Adult: forewing long and slender with pointed apex, color dull yellow with thick white stripes running length of wing; main stripe begins near base in upper half of wing and splits into two in AM area, each branch splitting again in PM area; another stripe begins near base in lower half of wing and runs straight to anal angle; hindwing uniformly white and very large, about three times width of forewing
Where is Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440 found?
Range: New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado
When is Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440 active?
Thaumatopsis magnificus - Hodges#5440: seasonal activity - adults fly in June and July.