Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061
Cisthene kentuckiensis
This record describes Cisthene kentuckiensis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult is best identified by the black ground color, dark thoracic disk, and wide orange or yellow basal streak which is well connected to the wide PM band. The basal edge of the PM band is broadly and evenly concave (contrast with One-banded).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Lithosiini
- Genus
- Cisthene
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Jersey, Ohio, and Indiana, south to n. Florida and Louisiana, west to rarely e. Oklahoma and n.e. Texas (Covell, 1984; BugGuide, iNaturalist records).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly July-October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults take nectar.
Life History
Larvae feed on lichens.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene kentuckiensis. 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 Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061
What is Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061?
Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061 (Cisthene kentuckiensis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061?
Wingspan 15-19 mm
How do you identify Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061?
Adult is best identified by the black ground color, dark thoracic disk, and wide orange or yellow basal streak which is well connected to the wide PM band. The basal edge of the PM band is broadly and evenly concave (contrast with One-banded).
Where is Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061 found?
Range: New Jersey, Ohio, and Indiana, south to n. Florida and Louisiana, west to rarely e. Oklahoma and n.e. Texas (Covell, 1984; BugGuide, iNaturalist records).
What does Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061 eat?
The diet of the Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061 includes Adults take nectar..
When is Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061 active?
Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061: seasonal activity - Adults fly July-October..
What is the life cycle of a Kentucky Lichen Moth - Hodges#8061?
Larvae feed on lichens.