Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371
Bleptina inferior
This record describes Bleptina inferior (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description of Bleptina inferior Grote, is available in PDF or view online. Photo determined by Jim Vargo.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Herminiinae
- Genus
- Bleptina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Iowa to Massachusetts, south to Texas and Florida ( 7 ) . ( 5 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from April to October; year round in Florida. ( 5 ) , ( 9 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed in leaf litter. ( 9 ) , ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bleptina inferior. 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 Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371
What is Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371?
Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371 (Bleptina inferior) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371?
Wingspan averages 22-26 mm. ( 5 ) Larva mature to 15 mm. ( 6 )
How do you identify Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371?
The original description of Bleptina inferior Grote, is available in PDF or view online. Photo determined by Jim Vargo.
Where is Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371 found?
Range: Iowa to Massachusetts, south to Texas and Florida ( 7 ) . ( 5 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371 eat?
The diet of the Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371 includes The larvae feed in leaf litter. ( 9 ) , ( 3 ).
When is Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371 active?
Bleptina inferior - Hodges#8371: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from April to October; year round in Florida. ( 5 ) , ( 9 ).