Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808
Tlascala reductella
This record describes Tlascala reductella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing banded with various colors in this order from base to tip: brownish, black, whitish, pale brownish-gray; two black discal spots in median area; subterminal line black, toothed, irregular; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe pale brownish-gray; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe. Mark Dreiling's DNA supported specimen
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Tlascala
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
mostly eastern United States: Florida to Illinois and Kentucky, plus Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to August in Kentucky
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ) and presumably other members of the genus.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tlascala reductella. 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 Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , George Smiley , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808
What is Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808?
Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808 (Tlascala reductella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808?
wingspan about 20 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808?
Adult: forewing banded with various colors in this order from base to tip: brownish, black, whitish, pale brownish-gray; two black discal spots in median area; subterminal line black, toothed, irregular; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe pale brownish-gray; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe. Mark Dreiling's DNA supported specimen
Where is Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808 found?
Range: mostly eastern United States: Florida to Illinois and Kentucky, plus Ontario
What does Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808 eat?
The diet of the Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808 includes Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ) and presumably other members of the genus..
When is Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808 active?
Tlascala Moth - Hodges#5808: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to August in Kentucky.