Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185
Apantesis blakei
This record describes Apantesis blakei (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
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Apantesis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to Manitoba, south to northern New Mexico and northern Texas. Holotype ♀ collected in "Colorado Territory" by James Ridings.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Schmidt (2009) reported the larvae polyphagous and feeding on various grasses and forbes. ( 5 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apantesis blakei. 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 Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by cotinis
Frequently Asked Questions About Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185
How big is Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185?
Grote listed a wingspan of 1.20" (30.48 mm.) Forewing length 10–14 mm.
Where is Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185 found?
Range: British Columbia to Manitoba, south to northern New Mexico and northern Texas. Holotype ♀ collected in Colorado Territory by James Ridings.
What does Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185 eat?
The diet of the Apantesis blakei - Hodges#8185 includes Schmidt (2009) reported the larvae polyphagous and feeding on various grasses and forbes. ( 5 ).