Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180
Apantesis incorrupta
This record describes Apantesis incorrupta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Has a long history of confusion with G. nevadensis , and mostly it has been reported and recorded under that name. A common species in the Southwest, often comming in large numbers to lights. They seem to be the most active between midnight and sunrise, particularly on moonless nights. Light wind doesn't seem to bother them too much up to a point, and they will often be the only moths to come to lights on windy nights.
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
Arizona, west Texas, and Mexico (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Personal observations - D.J. Ferguson : Larvae will feed on a variety of plant species, depending upon what is available, and can be reared on almost anything green (grass, assorted weeds, shrub leaves, lettuce, etc.). In habitat they are usually found walking (or running rapidly) across the ground, and tend to stop and nibble on whatever they come to. It seems that Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa may be a favorite, as the caterpillars are often found in numbers on this shrub. Sequester pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) from their food plant. The caterpillars have specialized chemoreceptors that detect PA and stimulate feeding.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apantesis incorrupta. 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 incorrupta - Hodges#8180 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by cotinis , David Ferguson , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180
What is Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180?
Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180 (Apantesis incorrupta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180?
Wingspan about 38-40 mm (MPG photos). Larva to 32 mm (Medlar, 1940).
Where is Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180 found?
Range: Arizona, west Texas, and Mexico (Powell & Opler, 2009).
What does Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180 eat?
The diet of the Apantesis incorrupta - Hodges#8180 includes Personal observations - D.J. Ferguson : Larvae will feed on a variety of plant species, depending upon what is available, and can be reared on almost anything green (grass, assorted weeds, shrub leaves, lettuce, etc.). In habitat they are usually found walking (or running rapidly) across the ground, and tend to stop and nibble on whatever they come to. It seems that Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa may be a favorite, as the caterpillars are often found in numbers on this shrub. Sequester pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) from their food plant. The caterpillars have specialized chemoreceptors that detect PA and stimulate feeding..