Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466
Vaxi critica
This record describes Vaxi critica (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing silvery white with yellow or orange median band that does not widen distally near inner margin; terminal band and fringe yellow or orange (same color as median band); hindwing 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
fields and meadows; adults may be active during the day but are also nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
e NA - Map (MPG & BG data)
Seasonal Activity
mostly flies June to September; longer in SE coastal states (MPG & BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: unrecorded
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Vaxi critica (Forbes, 1920), 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 critica. 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 Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466
What is Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466?
Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466 (Vaxi critica) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466?
Wingspan 15-18 mm.
How do you identify Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466?
Adult: forewing silvery white with yellow or orange median band that does not widen distally near inner margin; terminal band and fringe yellow or orange (same color as median band); hindwing white
Where is Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields and meadows; adults may be active during the day but are also nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | e NA - Map (MPG & BG data) |
What does Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466 eat?
The diet of the Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466 includes unrecorded.
When is Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466 active?
Straight-lined Vaxi - Hodges#5466: seasonal activity - mostly flies June to September; longer in SE coastal states (MPG & BG data).