Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038
Composia fidelissima
This record describes Composia fidelissima (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinctive day-flying moth found in South Florida. Lovely.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Composia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Tropical hardwood thickets (hammocks)
Geographic Range
South Florida, West Indies - Map - MPG
Seasonal Activity
year round in FL
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults take nectar, larval hosts: Devil's Potato - Echites umbellata - Apocynaceae Oleander - Nerium oleander - Apocynaceae Leafless Swallowwart - Cynanchum scoparium - Apocynaceae Bay Bean ( Canavalia rosea ) Baybean - Canavalia rosea - Fabaceae
Life History
1)eggs 2)eggs and newly hatched larvae 3)larva 4)pupa 5)adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "fidel" (L). 'Faithful'
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Composia fidelissima. 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 Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by anitagould , Mike Quinn , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038
What is Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038?
Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038 (Composia fidelissima) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038?
Wingspan 4.8-6.4 cm
How do you identify Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038?
Distinctive day-flying moth found in South Florida.
Where is Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Tropical hardwood thickets (hammocks) |
| Range | South Florida, West Indies - Map - MPG |
What does Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038 eat?
The diet of the Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038 includes Adults take nectar, larval hosts: Devil's Potato - Echites umbellata - Apocynaceae Oleander - Nerium oleander - Apocynaceae Leafless Swallowwart - Cynanchum scoparium - Apocynaceae Bay Bean ( Canavalia rosea ) Baybean - Canavalia rosea - Fabaceae.
When is Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038 active?
Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038: seasonal activity - year round in FL.
What is the life cycle of a Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038?
1)eggs 2)eggs and newly hatched larvae 3)larva 4)pupa 5)adult