Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177
Apantesis ornata
This record describes Apantesis ornata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW appear black, typically with a net-like pattern of extensive yellowish or rosy off-white transverse lines and thinner pale veins. HW color is variable from yellow-orange, orange, to orange-red, rarely entirely black. HW is heavily marked with black, including the basal wing, multiple spots, and an irregular marginal band. These are often fused to each other, especially near the wing margin. Larva : Larva is covered with long black hairs dorsally and laterally, but has red hairs ventrally, and has a yellow-orange middorsal line.
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
Habitat
Fields and roadsides.
Geographic Range
Great Basin to Pacific Coast - Map (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars: various herbaceous plants.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apantesis ornata. 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 ornata - Hodges#8177 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by cotinis , Mike Quinn , Robert Lord Zimlich , Abigail Parker
Frequently Asked Questions About Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177
What is Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177?
Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177 (Apantesis ornata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177?
FWL ≈ 16-20mm
How do you identify Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177?
Adult : FW appear black, typically with a net-like pattern of extensive yellowish or rosy off-white transverse lines and thinner pale veins. HW color is variable from yellow-orange, orange, to orange-red, rarely entirely black. HW is heavily marked with black, including the basal wing, multiple spots, and an irregular marginal band. These are often fused to each other, especially near the wing margin. Larva : Larva is covered with long black hairs dorsally and laterally, but has red hairs ventrally, and has a yellow-orange middorsal line.
Where is Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Fields and roadsides. |
| Range | Great Basin to Pacific Coast - Map (MPG) |
What does Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177 eat?
The diet of the Apantesis ornata - Hodges#8177 includes Caterpillars: various herbaceous plants..