Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150
Arachnis zuni
This record describes Arachnis zuni (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
- Arachnis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern and southeastern Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly May through August (Powell & Opler, 2009). Near Albuquerque, NM mature larvae were present in numbers from mid-September through early October (McFarland, 1959).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are polyphagous on at least four plant families. McFarland found them feeding on pigweed ( Amaranthus , Amaranthaceae) and various roadside weeds and shrubs as well as Chinese elm ( Siberian elm , Ulmaceae, according to Powell & Opler), and reared them on sweetclover ( Melilotus officinalis , Fabaceae). Powell & Opler add goosefoot ( Chenopodium , Chenopodiaceae).
Life History
McFarland observed that larvae in New Mexico climbed trees and shrubs in early October to overwinter. Larvae collected in mid-September were inactive until late April. As things warmed up larvae became active, spun cocoons, and pupated after a week in their cocoons. Adults eclosed late May, all between mid-afternoon and early evening.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arachnis zuni. 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 Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150
How big is Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150?
Forewing length 2.3-2.5 cm (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Where is Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150 found?
Range: Eastern and southeastern Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas (Powell & Opler, 2009).
What does Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150 eat?
The diet of the Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150 includes Larvae are polyphagous on at least four plant families. McFarland found them feeding on pigweed ( Amaranthus , Amaranthaceae) and various roadside weeds and shrubs as well as Chinese elm ( Siberian elm , Ulmaceae, according to Powell & Opler), and reared them on sweetclover ( Melilotus officinalis , Fabaceae). Powell & Opler add goosefoot ( Chenopodium , Chenopodiaceae)..
When is Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150 active?
Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150: seasonal activity - Adults fly May through August (Powell & Opler, 2009). Near Albuquerque, NM mature larvae were present in numbers from mid-September through early October (McFarland, 1959)..
What is the life cycle of a Arachnis zuni - Hodges#8150?
McFarland observed that larvae in New Mexico climbed trees and shrubs in early October to overwinter. Larvae collected in mid-September were inactive until late April. As things warmed up larvae became active, spun cocoons, and pupated after a week in their cocoons. Adults eclosed late May, all between mid-afternoon and early evening.