Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585
Toripalpus trabalis
This record describes Toripalpus trabalis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Epipaschiinae
- Genus
- Toripalpus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern Oregon through the southwest to western Texas. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Larvae - March, May and June in California. Adults - April to November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell and Opler found larvae feeding from extensive webbing on low foliage of buckwheats Eriogonum grande , E. parvifolium , E. nudum in California.
Life History
Pupation occurs on the food plant (Comstock & Dammers, 1935).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Toripalpus trabalis. 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 Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by cotinis , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585
How big is Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585?
Forewing length 11-15 mm. Larva to 27 mm (Comstock & Dammers, 1935). Pupa 13 mm (Comstock & Dammers, 1935).
Where is Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585 found?
Range: Eastern Oregon through the southwest to western Texas. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585 eat?
The diet of the Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585 includes Powell and Opler found larvae feeding from extensive webbing on low foliage of buckwheats Eriogonum grande , E. parvifolium , E. nudum in California..
When is Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585 active?
Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585: seasonal activity - Larvae - March, May and June in California. Adults - April to November..
What is the life cycle of a Toripalpus trabalis - Hodges#5585?
Pupation occurs on the food plant (Comstock & Dammers, 1935).