Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779
Argentostiria koebelei
This record describes Argentostiria koebelei (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults are very unique: Larva identified by David Wagner, 2022:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Stiriinae
- Tribe
- Stiriini
- Genus
- Argentostiria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California to southern Utah and western Arizona
Seasonal Activity
Adults seen mainly March to early June, but can be found into October when conditions are favorable.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been observed feeding on flowers of Psorothamnus schottii and Psorothamnus polydenius . (Bugguide images) Other records from Wagner et al. on Psorothamnus fremontii and P. arborescens .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argentostiria koebelei. 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 Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Kevin Keegan , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779
What is Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779?
Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779 (Argentostiria koebelei) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779?
Adults are very unique: Larva identified by David Wagner, 2022:
Where is Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779 found?
Range: Southern California to southern Utah and western Arizona
What does Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779 eat?
The diet of the Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779 includes Larvae have been observed feeding on flowers of Psorothamnus schottii and Psorothamnus polydenius . (Bugguide images) Other records from Wagner et al. on Psorothamnus fremontii and P. arborescens ..
When is Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779 active?
Argentostiria koebelei - Hodges#9779: seasonal activity - Adults seen mainly March to early June, but can be found into October when conditions are favorable..