Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439
Thaumatopsis pexellus
This record describes Thaumatopsis pexellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Yellowish gray forewing with a narrow whitish line from wing base to just beyond the reniform. The white line is bordered by a thicker dark brown line. Brown oblique line to near apex. Terminal line is 3-5 dark dots. Male antennae are bipectinate .
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
Habitat
Grasslands.
Geographic Range
Widespread in North America. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly July to early September and later in the South.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grass species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thaumatopsis pexellus. 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 Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439
What is Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439?
Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439 (Thaumatopsis pexellus) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439?
Wingspan: 21-32 mm.
How do you identify Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439?
Yellowish gray forewing with a narrow whitish line from wing base to just beyond the reniform. The white line is bordered by a thicker dark brown line. Brown oblique line to near apex. Terminal line is 3-5 dark dots. Male antennae are bipectinate .
Where is Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grasslands. |
| Range | Widespread in North America. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439 eat?
The diet of the Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439 includes Grass species..
When is Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439 active?
Woolly Grass-veneer Moth - Hodges#5439: seasonal activity - Adults fly July to early September and later in the South..