Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075
Cisthene picta
This record describes Cisthene picta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pictured Lichen Moth is one of the two species in the genus which has a completely orange thorax, a character shared with Angel Lichen Moth. The basal streak is wide, straight edged, and broadly connected to a wide PM band. The PM band is perpendicular to the inner margin and is usually smoothly concave on both sides (Sexton & McGuinness, 2017.) Previously confused with both Angel and Kentucky Lichen Moths.
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
Habitat
Some specimens were collected in riparian woodland corridors within semiarid grasslands or shrublands.
Geographic Range
Apparently has a limited distribution mainly in the s. Great Plains. Documented from Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and s.w. Missouri. There are a few records in s. Indiana which may represent the n.e. limit of the range or strays. A few recent records in Vermont are remarkable. The species seems not to be common anywhere.
Seasonal Activity
In Texas and Oklahoma, adults have two flight periods, April-May and September-October (iNaturalist, MPG, BG records).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene picta. 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 Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075
What is Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075?
Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075 (Cisthene picta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075?
Pictured Lichen Moth is one of the two species in the genus which has a completely orange thorax, a character shared with Angel Lichen Moth. The basal streak is wide, straight edged, and broadly connected to a wide PM band. The PM band is perpendicular to the inner margin and is usually smoothly concave on both sides (Sexton & McGuinness, 2017.)
Where is Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Some specimens were collected in riparian woodland corridors within semiarid grasslands or shrublands. |
| Range | Apparently has a limited distribution mainly in the s. Great Plains. Documented from Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and s.w. Missouri. There are a few records in s. Indiana which may represent the n.e. limit of the range or strays. A few recent records in Vermont are remarkable. The species seems not to be common anywhere. |
When is Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075 active?
Pictured Lichen Moth - Hodges#8075: seasonal activity - In Texas and Oklahoma, adults have two flight periods, April-May and September-October (iNaturalist, MPG, BG records)..