One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060
Cisthene unifascia
This record describes Cisthene unifascia (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults can be recognized by the shape of the PM band which is in the form of two broad-based triangles which meet thinly--or not at all--in the middle; the forward margin of the PM band is thus deeply indented, irregular, and rather rectangular (compared to a more evenly concave margin in other species). When the two triangle don't touch, the upper spot (on inner FW margin) looks like an inverted shark fin, convex in front, straight or concave in rear. Color areas typically pale orange, but may be yellow or red-orange. Males do not have the projecting lobe on the hind wing.
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
Southern Great Plains from Texas to Oklahoma and Arkansas, with apparently isolated populations in Mississippi and Alabama (MPG, iNaturalist). (Many/most records further east--on Moth Photographer's Group and elsewhere--are based on misidentification of Thin-banded Lichen Moth or other species. Also, early literature used " Cisthene unifascia " for several species which were subsequently split off. )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cisthene unifascia. 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 One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060
What is One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060?
One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060 (Cisthene unifascia) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060?
Adults can be recognized by the shape of the PM band which is in the form of two broad-based triangles which meet thinly--or not at all--in the middle; the forward margin of the PM band is thus deeply indented, irregular, and rather rectangular (compared to a more evenly concave margin in other species). When the two triangle don't touch, the upper spot (on inner FW margin) looks like an inverted shark fin, convex in front, straight or concave in rear. Color areas typically pale orange, but may be yellow or red-orange. Males do not have the projecting lobe on the hind wing.
Where is One-banded Lichen Moth - Hodges#8060 found?
Range: Southern Great Plains from Texas to Oklahoma and Arkansas, with apparently isolated populations in Mississippi and Alabama (MPG, iNaturalist). (Many/most records further east--on Moth Photographer's Group and elsewhere--are based on misidentification of Thin-banded Lichen Moth or other species. Also, early literature used Cisthene unifascia for several species which were subsequently split off. )