Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709
Bactra priapeia
This record describes Bactra priapeia (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available in PDF or view online in the print references below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Bactra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Coastal.
Geographic Range
Massachusetts to Florida; [Utah to New Mexico(?)]. Powell states a range from Florida, Louisiana, the Gulf Coast of Texas, southern California (possibly introduced), British Honduras, and Panama. Type locality: USA: Louisiana, Sabine River Ferry. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Heppner reported adults from April to June, September. January, March to October on Moth photographers Group
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is unknown.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin priapei meaning "phallus" (from Priapus, son of Aphrodite, and the personification of the phallus). Heinrich notes "the most striking character is the aedeagus of the genitalia; this is slender, very long, and curved in a half circle. It at once distinguishes the species."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bactra priapeia. 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 Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709
What is Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709?
Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709 (Bactra priapeia) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709?
Wingspan 16-17 mm.
How do you identify Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709?
The original description is available in PDF or view online in the print references below.
Where is Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal. |
| Range | Massachusetts to Florida; [Utah to New Mexico(?)]. Powell states a range from Florida, Louisiana, the Gulf Coast of Texas, southern California (possibly introduced), British Honduras, and Panama. Type locality: USA: Louisiana, Sabine River Ferry. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709 eat?
The diet of the Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709 includes Larval host is unknown..
When is Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709 active?
Bactra priapeia - Hodges#2709: seasonal activity - Heppner reported adults from April to June, September. January, March to October on Moth photographers Group.