Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066
Cisthene tenuifascia
This record describes Cisthene tenuifascia (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identified by the combination of yellow/orange vertex, dark gray thoracic disk, narrow basal orange streaks which connect thinly or not at all to PM band, and a thin PM band which is sometimes irregular and sometimes broken into spots. The subspecies schwarziorum (Schwarz's Lichen Moth) is found in AZ and differs recognizably from the nominate subspecies found in TX and elsewhere. Schwarz's has a wider, complete PM band and the colors are often yellower than in nominate Thin-banded. The basal streaks generally stop short of the PM band. It more closely resembles the Tamaulipan Lichen Moth but can be differentiated by range and by having mostly gray legs (especially the mid-tibia).
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
AZ-FL-NC-OK, strays further north. Apparently all AZ specimens belong to the subspecies schwarziorum , "Schwarz's Lichen Moth", named by Dyar in 1899 but with a confusing taxonomic history. That subspecies was previously confused with C. subrufa which occurs only in South Texas and eastern Mexico (see Remarks, below).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on lichens and algae, as do larvae of other members of this genus. Adults have been found in large numbers sugaring on desert broom ( Baccharis sarothroides ) and mule fat ( Baccharis salicifolia ) in southern Arizona .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: tenuifascia : from the Latin "tenuis" (thin) + "fascia" (a band); refers to the thin median band on the forewing, and is the origin of the common name Thin-banded Lichen Moth.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene tenuifascia. 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 Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066
What is Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066?
Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066 (Cisthene tenuifascia) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066?
Forewing length 7-9 mm.
How do you identify Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066?
Identified by the combination of yellow/orange vertex, dark gray thoracic disk, narrow basal orange streaks which connect thinly or not at all to PM band, and a thin PM band which is sometimes irregular and sometimes broken into spots.
Where is Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066 found?
Range: AZ-FL-NC-OK, strays further north. Apparently all AZ specimens belong to the subspecies schwarziorum , Schwarz's Lichen Moth, named by Dyar in 1899 but with a confusing taxonomic history. That subspecies was previously confused with C. subrufa which occurs only in South Texas and eastern Mexico (see Remarks, below).
What does Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066 eat?
The diet of the Thin-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8066 includes Larvae feed on lichens and algae, as do larvae of other members of this genus. Adults have been found in large numbers sugaring on desert broom ( Baccharis sarothroides ) and mule fat ( Baccharis salicifolia ) in southern Arizona ..