Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551
Anomis illita
This record describes Anomis illita (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Scoliopteryginae
- Tribe
- Anomini
- Genus
- Anomis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern United States, straying northward. Found throughout much of tropical America. Type locality: Brazil Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from September and October. Adults are found year round in southern Florida. BugGuide - map of photo records submitted to the guide.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anomis illita. 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 Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551
How big is Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551?
Wingspan about 17 mm.
Where is Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551 found?
Range: Southeastern United States, straying northward. Found throughout much of tropical America. Type locality: Brazil Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
When is Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551 active?
Okra Leafworm Moth - Hodges#8551: seasonal activity - Most records are from September and October. Adults are found year round in southern Florida. BugGuide - map of photo records submitted to the guide..