Golden Looper - Hodges#8885
Argyrogramma verruca
This record describes Argyrogramma verruca (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Argyrogrammatini
- Genus
- Argyrogramma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eichlin & Cunningham reported the range to include Ontario, Maine to Florida, west to Colorado, and south to tropical South America. , , , , Heppner reported Maine to Florida, Illinois to Colorado and Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Brazil.
Seasonal Activity
The average flight period is July to December. Heppner reported adults every month of the year in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Crumb (1956) listed Gossypium hirsuturriy , Justicia americana , Nicotiana tabaccurriy , Vigna unguiculata . ( 9 ) Eichlin & Cunningham (1978) listed Polygonum punctatum , P. setaceum , Hyptis sp., Mentha sp.. Pelargonium sp., Spathiphyllum sp., Tradescantia fluminensis , Trickosporum sp. ( 3 ) Forbes (1954) listed Sagittaria sp. ( 10 ) Heppner & Habeck (1976) listed Rumex crispus . ( 3 ) Kimball (1965) listed Calendula sp. ( 11 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argyrogramma verruca. 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 Golden Looper - Hodges#8885 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by gretchengrammer , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden Looper - Hodges#8885
How big is Golden Looper - Hodges#8885?
Wingspan about 28 mm.
Where is Golden Looper - Hodges#8885 found?
Range: Eichlin & Cunningham reported the range to include Ontario, Maine to Florida, west to Colorado, and south to tropical South America. , , , , Heppner reported Maine to Florida, Illinois to Colorado and Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Brazil.
What does Golden Looper - Hodges#8885 eat?
The diet of the Golden Looper - Hodges#8885 includes Crumb (1956) listed Gossypium hirsuturriy , Justicia americana , Nicotiana tabaccurriy , Vigna unguiculata . ( 9 ) Eichlin & Cunningham (1978) listed Polygonum punctatum , P. setaceum , Hyptis sp., Mentha sp.. Pelargonium sp., Spathiphyllum sp., Tradescantia fluminensis , Trickosporum sp. ( 3 ) Forbes (1954) listed Sagittaria sp. ( 10 ) Heppner & Habeck (1976) listed Rumex crispus . ( 3 ) Kimball (1965) listed Calendula sp. ( 11 ).
When is Golden Looper - Hodges#8885 active?
Golden Looper - Hodges#8885: seasonal activity - The average flight period is July to December. Heppner reported adults every month of the year in Florida..