Loxostege indentalis
Grote, 1883
Loxostege indentalis is a crambid described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. The is native to western North America, with documented records from six U.S. states. have a wingspan of approximately 35 mm and are active from spring through late summer. The Loxostege includes several species of webworm moths, some of which are significant agricultural pests, though specific economic impacts of L. indentalis have not been documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Loxostege indentalis: /lɔkˈsɒstɛd͡ʒ iːnˈdɛntəlɪs/
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Distribution
Recorded from California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and Montana in the United States. GBIF records also indicate presence in Alberta, Canada. The occurs primarily in the western Nearctic region.
Seasonality
have been recorded on wing from April to September.
Host Associations
- Loxostege - preyCaterpillars of the Loxostege have been recorded as a major for the mason wasp Euodynerus annulatus (Rau and Rau, 1918). This suggests L. indentalis larvae feed on vegetation, consistent with other members of this genus commonly known as webworms.
Similar Taxa
- Loxostege cereralisThe Alfalfa Webworm is a closely related in the same with similar and ; both are western North American crambids with overlapping distributions.
- Other Loxostege speciesMembers of this share general webworm and larval habits, requiring examination of genitalia or detailed wing pattern analysis for definitive identification.
More Details
Taxonomic note
Originally described as Prorasea indentalis by Grote in 1883, later transferred to Loxostege. The Loxostege is placed in Pyraustinae (formerly treated as part of Pyralidae, now Crambidae).
Etymology
The specific epithet 'indentalis' likely refers to the indented or notched appearance of some wing margin or genitalia feature, though this has not been explicitly documented in available sources.
Research potential
Despite being described nearly 140 years ago, published biological information on this remains sparse. Basic data including larval plants, stages, and detailed associations are not documented in readily accessible literature.