Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078
Cisthene martini
This record describes Cisthene martini (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Martin's Lichen Moth is similar to Thin-banded except that all the colors are darkened and over-saturated. Most noticeably, the basal streak and PM band are usually dark red-orange. In many online images, the PM band shows a thin hint of yellow around its perimeter and the ground color is slightly darker around the edges of the band, both of which tend to sharpen the contrast of the PM band with the FW ground color.
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.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene martini. 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 Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Nina; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078
What is Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078?
Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078 (Cisthene martini) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078?
Forewing length 9-11 mm.
How do you identify Martin's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8078?
Martin's Lichen Moth is similar to Thin-banded except that all the colors are darkened and over-saturated. Most noticeably, the basal streak and PM band are usually dark red-orange. In many online images, the PM band shows a thin hint of yellow around its perimeter and the ground color is slightly darker around the edges of the band, both of which tend to sharpen the contrast of the PM band with the FW ground color.