Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693
Condica mobilis
This record describes Condica mobilis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing orangish to reddish-brown with dull brownish lines and mottling; bottom of reniform spot white; AM line scalloped; subterminal line jagged, irregular; hindwing whitish with grayish-brown border. [adapted from description by Charles Covell ] One of the most abundant noctuids in the New World tropical and subtropical regions. - Robert W. Poole
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Condicinae
- Tribe
- Condicini
- Genus
- Condica
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona to Florida and north to New Jersey in the east. West Indies and Mexico to South America. - Robert W. Poole Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Flies all year in southern Florida and like many abundant tropical species, this moth disperses northward during the summer. - Robert W. Poole
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on beggarticks ( Bidens spp.) including Spanish Needles ( B. bipinnata ) and Bearded Beggarticks ( B. aristosa ).
Life History
Larva. Pupa
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Condica mobilis. 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 Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693
What is Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693?
Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693 (Condica mobilis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693?
Wingspan 27-34 mm.
How do you identify Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693?
Adult: forewing orangish to reddish-brown with dull brownish lines and mottling; bottom of reniform spot white; AM line scalloped; subterminal line jagged, irregular; hindwing whitish with grayish-brown border. [adapted from description by Charles Covell ]
Where is Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693 found?
Range: Arizona to Florida and north to New Jersey in the east. West Indies and Mexico to South America. - Robert W. Poole Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693 eat?
The diet of the Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693 includes Larvae feed on beggarticks ( Bidens spp.) including Spanish Needles ( B. bipinnata ) and Bearded Beggarticks ( B. aristosa )..
When is Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693 active?
Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693: seasonal activity - Flies all year in southern Florida and like many abundant tropical species, this moth disperses northward during the summer. - Robert W. Poole.
What is the life cycle of a Mobile Groundling - Hodges#9693?
Larva. Pupa