Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912
Datana diffidens
This record describes Datana diffidens (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A very large Datana restricted in range to the Texas coast. Forewings sprinkled with white scales, giving the moth a powdery look. Similar to D. perfusa of Arizona, but easily separated by range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phalerinae
- Genus
- Datana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Coastal Texas, and presumably adjacent Mexico Holotype ♂, Victoria, Texas, "1916", col. K.J. Leffland.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Datana diffidens. 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 Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912
What is Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912?
Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912 (Datana diffidens) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912?
Dyar (1917) listed a wingspan of 46 mm.
How do you identify Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912?
A very large Datana restricted in range to the Texas coast. Forewings sprinkled with white scales, giving the moth a powdery look. Similar to D. perfusa of Arizona, but easily separated by range.
Where is Datana diffidens - Hodges#7912 found?
Range: Coastal Texas, and presumably adjacent Mexico Holotype ♂, Victoria, Texas, 1916", col. K.J. Leffland.