Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068
Cisthene striata
This record describes Cisthene striata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to Lead-colored Lichen Moth but with blurry whitish to pale gray dusting in three broad bands in basal 2/3 of forewings and similar color between all veins in outer par of the wing. Pink-orange PM spot on inner margin ranges from large to small or rarely absent. Intermediate forms with Lead-colored occur in n. Florida and s. Georgia (Kons 2001, BOLD). Taxonomic trees from barcoding show specimens of Striated thoroughly intermixed with Lead-colored, suggesting the two taxa may not be genetically distinct.
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
Mainly Florida but with recent specimens barcoded from s. Georgia.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene striata. 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 Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Chatfield-Taylor; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068
What is Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068?
Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068 (Cisthene striata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068?
Wingspan about 17 mm (Ottolengui, 1898)
How do you identify Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068?
Similar to Lead-colored Lichen Moth but with blurry whitish to pale gray dusting in three broad bands in basal 2/3 of forewings and similar color between all veins in outer par of the wing. Pink-orange PM spot on inner margin ranges from large to small or rarely absent. Intermediate forms with Lead-colored occur in n. Florida and s. Georgia (Kons 2001, BOLD). Taxonomic trees from barcoding show specimens of Striated thoroughly intermixed with Lead-colored, suggesting the two taxa may not be genetically distinct.
Where is Striated Lichen Moth - Hodges#8068 found?
Range: Mainly Florida but with recent specimens barcoded from s. Georgia.