Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210
Acronicta tota
This record describes Acronicta tota (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Original description online: 12
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acronictinae
- Genus
- Acronicta (Dagger Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
NM-TX - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
At least one flight in Texas from February through April. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Found on Western Soapberry and Sugar Hackberry
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta tota. 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 Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210
How big is Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210?
Forewing length 15-18 mm.
How do you identify Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210?
Original description online: 12
Where is Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210 found?
Range: NM-TX - Map (MPG)
What does Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210 eat?
The diet of the Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210 includes Found on Western Soapberry and Sugar Hackberry.
When is Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210 active?
Acronicta tota - Hodges#9210: seasonal activity - At least one flight in Texas from February through April. ( 3 ).