American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007
Vitula edmandsii
This record describes Vitula edmandsii (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Distinctive blue-grey FW ground color, with a slight rosy suffusion with blackish markings. In western North America the driedfruit moth, Vitula serratilineella Ragonot, is a pest of stored raisins, prunes, dried apple and other dried fruit product. It is distiguished by... lighter colored forewings and nearly white (not brownish) hindwings. In eastern North America a closely related species, Vitula edmandsii (Packard), has brownish hindwings. It invades beehives but is not known to be a true pest of stored-products. Some authorities consider V. edmandsii and V. serratilineella a single species, with a western subspecies V. edmandsii serratilineella . Others retain the division between eastern and western species. [Alan R. Olsen, Fundamentals of Microanalytical Entomology ]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Vitula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern Canada and eastern USA. Type locality ( edmandsii ): Warwick, MA; Bridport, VT. Type locality ( dentosella ): Florida; North Carolina.
Seasonal Activity
Multivoltine on Block Island , RI, with adult records from early June through mid-October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae are larger than larvae of the Indian meal moth. From egg to adult, the elapsed time averages 88 days. In the summer, the incubation period is about 9 days, larvae develop for 69 days, and the pupal period lasts 10 days. Adults live about 9 days and lay eggs for about 6 days. Their egg production varies from 63 to 200 but averages 128. These moths pass the winter as larvae
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Vitula edmandsii. 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 American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007
What is American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007?
American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007 (Vitula edmandsii) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007?
Wingspan: 20–25 mm
How do you identify American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007?
Adult : Distinctive blue-grey FW ground color, with a slight rosy suffusion with blackish markings.
Where is American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007 found?
Range: Southeastern Canada and eastern USA. Type locality ( edmandsii ): Warwick, MA; Bridport, VT. Type locality ( dentosella ): Florida; North Carolina.
When is American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007 active?
American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007: seasonal activity - Multivoltine on Block Island , RI, with adult records from early June through mid-October..
What is the life cycle of a American Wax Moth - Hodges#6007?
Larvae are larger than larvae of the Indian meal moth. From egg to adult, the elapsed time averages 88 days. In the summer, the incubation period is about 9 days, larvae develop for 69 days, and the pupal period lasts 10 days. Adults live about 9 days and lay eggs for about 6 days. Their egg production varies from 63 to 200 but averages 128. These moths pass the winter as larvae