Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465
Vaxi auratella
This record describes Vaxi auratella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with median orange or yellowish band; band widens toward inner margin where it connects with narrow terminal line and fringe of same color hindwing grayish-white.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Calamotrophini
- Genus
- Vaxi
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wet prairies and meadows; adults may be seen flying during the day and are also attracted to light.
Geographic Range
Eastern United States and southeastern Canada: Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba; also occurs in California.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from March to July in the south; June to August in the north.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: This species, transferred to the genus Argyria in Munroe (1995), is returned to Vaxi following the implied treatment in Léger et al. (2019), Syst. Entomol., 44(4):770, which placed Argyria in the tribe Argyriini and Vaxi in the tribe Calamotrophini, stat. rev.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Vaxi auratella. 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 Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465
What is Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465?
Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465 (Vaxi auratella) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465?
Wingspan 15-18 mm.
How do you identify Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465?
Adult: forewing white with median orange or yellowish band; band widens toward inner margin where it connects with narrow terminal line and fringe of same color hindwing grayish-white.
Where is Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Wet prairies and meadows; adults may be seen flying during the day and are also attracted to light. |
| Range | Eastern United States and southeastern Canada: Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba; also occurs in California. |
When is Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465 active?
Curve-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5465: seasonal activity - Adults fly from March to July in the south; June to August in the north..