White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523
Bellura gortynoides
This record describes Bellura gortynoides (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
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Arzamini
- Genus
- Bellura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Mississippi, north to Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to September larvae from late fall to spring (overwinter)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves and stems of Yellow Pond-lily ( Nuphar lutea ), including subspecies N. l. advena [reports of other hosts such as cattail and pickerelweed are thought to be in error due to confusing synonymy of Bellura species]
Life History
two generations per year in the south; one generation in the north; overwinters as a mature larva; eggs are laid in clusters on leaves of hostplant, hatching in 5-6 days; young larvae mine the leaf blade during first three instars; subsequent instars bore into petiole, creating a burrow in which they feed with their head below the waterline, while breathing atmospheric oxygen through spiracles in their tail; pupation occurs within the petiole
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bellura gortynoides. 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 White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523
How big is White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523?
wingspan of male 35-39 mm; female 42-45 mm larvae to 52 mm
Where is White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Mississippi, north to Alberta
What does White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523 eat?
The diet of the White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523 includes larvae feed on leaves and stems of Yellow Pond-lily ( Nuphar lutea ), including subspecies N. l. advena [reports of other hosts such as cattail and pickerelweed are thought to be in error due to confusing synonymy of Bellura species].
When is White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523 active?
White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to September larvae from late fall to spring (overwinter).
What is the life cycle of a White-tailed Diver - Hodges#9523?
two generations per year in the south; one generation in the north; overwinters as a mature larva; eggs are laid in clusters on leaves of hostplant, hatching in 5-6 days; young larvae mine the leaf blade during first three instars; subsequent instars bore into petiole, creating a burrow in which they feed with their head below the waterline, while breathing atmospheric oxygen through spiracles in their tail; pupation occurs within the petiole