Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071
Cisthene subjecta
This record describes Cisthene subjecta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Recognized by a combination of characters: -- Basal red/yellow streak is separated from the inner forewing margin by gray. -- Basal streak connects to the red PM spot on the inner margin at it's top, i.e. at the point closest to the costal margin; that is, the PM spot does not bulge further towards the costa. -- Reddish PM spot on costal margin is low and flared out widely, often 3X as wide as tall, contrasting with the semicircular spot of Packard's. Packard's and Subject Lichen Moths are frequently confused; both are variable. Name confusion with other (yet to be described) species in early literature is particularly severe.
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
Found from n.e. Texas (rare) east to the Atlantic Coast, including all of peninsular Florida. Seems to be less common than Packard's Lichen Moth everywhere except Florida. It is well-documented only in the southern tier of states, north the North Carolina (BugGuide, BOLD, iNaturalist records). It has been reported from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana and further north. Many records outside of the deep south may be misidentified Packard's Lichen Moth (Knowlton 1967).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene subjecta. 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 Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Gretchen Grammer; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071
What is Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071?
Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071 (Cisthene subjecta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071?
Recognized by a combination of characters: -- Basal red/yellow streak is separated from the inner forewing margin by gray. -- Basal streak connects to the red PM spot on the inner margin at it's top, i.e. at the point closest to the costal margin; that is, the PM spot does not bulge further towards the costa. -- Reddish PM spot on costal margin is low and flared out widely, often 3X as wide as tall, contrasting with the semicircular spot of Packard's.
Where is Subject Lichen Moth - Hodges#8071 found?
Range: Found from n.e. Texas (rare) east to the Atlantic Coast, including all of peninsular Florida. Seems to be less common than Packard's Lichen Moth everywhere except Florida. It is well-documented only in the southern tier of states, north the North Carolina (BugGuide, BOLD, iNaturalist records). It has been reported from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana and further north. Many records outside of the deep south may be misidentified Packard's Lichen Moth (Knowlton 1967).