Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191
Cucullia laetifica
This record describes Cucullia laetifica (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hampson described the larva. description .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cuculliinae
- Genus
- Cucullia (Hooded Owlets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Short grass prairie and desert shrub.
Geographic Range
Arizona to Texas, Kansas to Utah. Nearctica.com map
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly May through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hostplant is Chrysothamnus sp. (rabbitbush) HOSTS database lists Boerhavia sp. (spiderling)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cucullia laetifica. 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 Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191
What is Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191?
Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191 (Cucullia laetifica) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191?
Hampson (1906) listed the wingspan 44-46 mm.
How do you identify Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191?
Hampson described the larva. description .
Where is Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Short grass prairie and desert shrub. |
| Range | Arizona to Texas, Kansas to Utah. Nearctica.com map |
What does Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191 eat?
The diet of the Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191 includes Larval hostplant is Chrysothamnus sp. (rabbitbush) HOSTS database lists Boerhavia sp. (spiderling).
When is Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191 active?
Cucullia laetifica - Hodges#10191: seasonal activity - Adults fly May through September..