Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447
Thaumatopsis pectinifer
This record describes Thaumatopsis pectinifer (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Description is online. Determined by Brian Scholtens . Considered a serious pest of corn.
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
North Dakota, to Oklahoma, Texas to southern Florida. , , , Also scattered records from the Michigan and Indiana area. Likely to be found anywhere corn is grown. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Records of adults are mainly from March, May to June, and August to November. ( 6 ) , ( 5 ) August is the peak moth. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Grass stem borer.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thaumatopsis pectinifer. 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 pectinifer - Hodges#5447 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447
What is Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447?
Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447 (Thaumatopsis pectinifer) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447?
Wingspan 22 mm.
How do you identify Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447?
Description is online. Determined by Brian Scholtens .
Where is Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447 found?
Range: North Dakota, to Oklahoma, Texas to southern Florida. , , , Also scattered records from the Michigan and Indiana area. Likely to be found anywhere corn is grown. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
When is Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447 active?
Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447: seasonal activity - Records of adults are mainly from March, May to June, and August to November. ( 6 ) , ( 5 ) August is the peak moth. ( 6 ).
What is the life cycle of a Thaumatopsis pectinifer - Hodges#5447?
Grass stem borer.