Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993
Cecrita lunata
This record describes Cecrita lunata (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See Miller et al. (2021) ( 4 ) . Edwards (1884) original description of Heterocampa lunata is available online in the print references. Determined by Noel McFarland.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Cecrita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
UT, CO, AZ, NM. ( 4 ) Type locality: AZ.
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler (2009) reported adults from May to July with the peak being June to July. ( 3 ) April to September records are known.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2009) reported the larval host is unknown. ( 3 ) Populus tremuloides (aspen) is suspected. ( 5 ) The adults do not feed. ( 5 )
Life History
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the life cycle is unknown. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Cecrita lunata (Edwards, 1884), n. comb. in Becker , was formerly in the genus Heterocampa .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cecrita lunata. 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 Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993
What is Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993?
Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993 (Cecrita lunata) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993?
Powell & Opler (2009) reported a forewing length of 20-22 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993?
See Miller et al. (2021) ( 4 ) . Edwards (1884) original description of Heterocampa lunata is available online in the print references. Determined by Noel McFarland.
Where is Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993 found?
Range: UT, CO, AZ, NM. ( 4 ) Type locality: AZ.
What does Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993 eat?
The diet of the Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993 includes Powell & Opler (2009) reported the larval host is unknown. ( 3 ) Populus tremuloides (aspen) is suspected. ( 5 ) The adults do not feed. ( 5 ).
When is Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993 active?
Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler (2009) reported adults from May to July with the peak being June to July. ( 3 ) April to September records are known..
What is the life cycle of a Cecrita lunata - Hodges#7993?
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the life cycle is unknown. ( 3 )