LepidopteraErebidae

Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301

Dasychira leucophaea

This record describes Dasychira leucophaea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 - Dasychira leucophaea
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Family
Erebidae
Subfamily
Lymantriinae
Tribe
Orgyiini
Genus
Dasychira

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Louisiana to North Carolina and Florida . , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.

Seasonal Activity

Adults fly from January to August and October to December. ,

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larval hosts include: ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , (Ferguson, 1975) Betula L. (birch) Carya Nutt. (hickory) Quercus L. (oak) Diospyros virginiana L. (common persimmon] Malus pumila Mill. (paradise apple)

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dasychira leucophaea. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 (5)

Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301

Where is Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 found?

Range: Louisiana to North Carolina and Florida . , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.

What does Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 eat?

The diet of the Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 includes Larval hosts include: ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , (Ferguson, 1975) Betula L. (birch) Carya Nutt. (hickory) Quercus L. (oak) Diospyros virginiana L. (common persimmon] Malus pumila Mill. (paradise apple).

When is Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301 active?

Dasychira leucophaea - Hodges#8301: seasonal activity - Adults fly from January to August and October to December. ,.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.