Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879
Xanthophysa psychicalis
This record describes Xanthophysa psychicalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Expands 14 mm. Antennae, thorax and abdomen light ochreous ; front white ; between the antenna, and at summit of thorax, and on fore wings rich yellow ; fore wings crossed by two white lines, the basal straight, the outer bent outwardly above middle ; a white basal spot and white basally along inner margin ; margin fuscous, fringes fuscous at base, cinereous outwardly ; hind wings whitish, a faint fuscous median band and margin, and fringe fuscous; beneath fuscous, outer line and veins beyond line light fuscous. - Hulst, 1886: 149 .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Xanthophysa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xanthophysa psychicalis (Hulst, 1886) was originally misspelled as psychialis in Hulst (1886) p. 149 but the spelling was corrected in the same work on p. xxiv so the corrections stands.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xanthophysa psychicalis. 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 Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879
What is Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879?
Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879 (Xanthophysa psychicalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879?
Wingspan: 14 mm. (Hulst, 1886: 149 ).
How do you identify Xanthophysa Moth - Hodges#4879?
Expands 14 mm. Antennae, thorax and abdomen light ochreous ; front white ; between the antenna, and at summit of thorax, and on fore wings rich yellow ; fore wings crossed by two white lines, the basal straight, the outer bent outwardly above middle ; a white basal spot and white basally along inner margin ; margin fuscous, fringes fuscous at base, cinereous outwardly ; hind wings whitish, a faint fuscous median band and margin, and fringe fuscous; beneath fuscous, outer line and veins beyond line light fuscous. - Hulst, 1886: 149 .