Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081
Udea washingtonalis
This record describes Udea washingtonalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with dark brown band extending from middle of costa half-way to inner margin; AM and PM lines broken and/or indistinct; black spots along outer margin and distal half of costa; pale yellowish shading in median area; hindwing white with diffuse yellowish terminal band and black dots along outer margin
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Udeini
- Genus
- Udea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Alaska (as far west as the Pribilof Islands), south to California.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to July in California
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Udea washingtonalis. 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 Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081
What is Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081?
Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081 (Udea washingtonalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081?
Expanse: 19-28 mm., depending on subspecies.
How do you identify Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081?
Adult: forewing white with dark brown band extending from middle of costa half-way to inner margin; AM and PM lines broken and/or indistinct; black spots along outer margin and distal half of costa; pale yellowish shading in median area; hindwing white with diffuse yellowish terminal band and black dots along outer margin
Where is Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081 found?
Range: Alaska (as far west as the Pribilof Islands), south to California.
When is Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081 active?
Udea washingtonalis - Hodges#5081: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to July in California.