Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964
Cargida pyrrha
This record describes Cargida pyrrha (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Godfrey (1984) described the larva as having a black head and body with several lateral yellow and white stripes. ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Dudusinae
- Tribe
- Dudusini
- Genus
- Cargida
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona. ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler reported a flight period of July through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval foodplant is Ziziphus obtusifolia (Hook. ex Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray (lotebush). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet pyrrha from Greek mythology and retold in Ovid's Metamorphoses . Pyrrha is the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora and wife of Deucalion.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cargida pyrrha. 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 Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by cotinis , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964
What is Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964?
Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964 (Cargida pyrrha) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964?
Powell & Opler listed the forewing length. ♂ 17 mm. ♀ 24 mm. Godfrey stated the larvae mature to 30-38 mm.
How do you identify Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964?
Godfrey (1984) described the larva as having a black head and body with several lateral yellow and white stripes. ( 3 )
Where is Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964 found?
Range: Arizona. ( 4 )
What does Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964 eat?
The diet of the Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964 includes Larval foodplant is Ziziphus obtusifolia (Hook. ex Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray (lotebush). ( 3 ).
When is Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964 active?
Cargida pyrrha - Hodges#7964: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler reported a flight period of July through September..