Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86
Acontia n-sp-one
This record describes Acontia n-sp-one (unresolved taxon). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Sexually dimorphic. The male forewing is almost completely dingy white except for dull, gray patches; one at the apex of the forewing and a second surrounding the lower half of the postmedial line. The hindwing is primarily pure white except for a dull gray band along the upper half of the outer margin. The female has much more extensive gray patches in the forewing. The outer third of the wing is almost all gray except for a white patch near the costa and surrounding a minute dark spot. The hindwing is primarily white except for the outer margin dull gray. The dull gray suffusion is more extensive than in the male.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acontiinae
- Tribe
- Acontiini
- Genus
- Acontia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Known from south Texas and northeastern Mexico (based only on material in the USNM) .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown .
Life History
Unknown .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acontia n-sp-one. 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 Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86
What is Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86?
Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86 (Acontia n-sp-one) is a unresolved taxon in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86?
Forewing length: ~8mm. (smallest New World Acontia )
How do you identify Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86?
Sexually dimorphic. The male forewing is almost completely dingy white except for dull, gray patches; one at the apex of the forewing and a second surrounding the lower half of the postmedial line. The hindwing is primarily pure white except for a dull gray band along the upper half of the outer margin. The female has much more extensive gray patches in the forewing. The outer third of the wing is almost all gray except for a white patch near the costa and surrounding a minute dark spot. The hindwing is primarily white except for the outer margin dull gray. The dull gray suffusion is more extensive than in the male.
Where is Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86 found?
Range: Known from south Texas and northeastern Mexico (based only on material in the USNM) .
What does Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86 eat?
The diet of the Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86 includes Unknown ..
What is the life cycle of a Acontia n-sp-one - Hodges#9164.86?
Unknown .