Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914
Datana perfusa
This record describes Datana perfusa (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available online in the print references below. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Quite a large Datana species, easily recognized by its size within its limited US range (southern Arizona). Has two distinct color forms, once considered separate species: one plain pale brown with dark scales peppered throughout the forewings, and one very dark reddish brown with all markings virtually obsolete.
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
Arizona. ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Oaks
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Datana perfusa Dyar, 1923 is raised from synonymy of D. perspicua Grote & Robinson, 1865 to full species status and includes D. rotundata Draudt, 1934 and D. chiriquensis of authors not Dyar, 1895 as new synonyms, MONA Fascicle 22.1A: 160. . (True chiriquensis is not found north of Mexico.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Datana perfusa. 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 perfusa - Hodges#7914 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914
What is Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914?
Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914 (Datana perfusa) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914?
Wingspan about 60 mm. (Dyar)
How do you identify Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914?
The original description is available online in the print references below. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Quite a large Datana species, easily recognized by its size within its limited US range (southern Arizona). Has two distinct color forms, once considered separate species: one plain pale brown with dark scales peppered throughout the forewings, and one very dark reddish brown with all markings virtually obsolete.
Where is Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914 found?
Range: Arizona. ( 4 )
What does Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914 eat?
The diet of the Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914 includes Oaks.
When is Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914 active?
Datana perfusa - Hodges#7914: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from June to August..