Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1
Dynamine postverta
This record describes Dynamine postverta (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Extremely similar to the Blue-eyed Sailor ( D. dyonis ), though larger. Female has three distinct white stripes across the upperside of the hindwings, vs. just one in the Blue-eyed. Male upperwing is bluer and has four black spots near the forewing apex. First U.S. Records: December 3 2005, at the NABA National Butterfly Center; and December 7 2005, at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. (Bordelon & Knudson 2006)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Biblidinae
- Tribe
- Ageroniini
- Genus
- Dynamine (Sailors)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to C. Amer. / Cuba - Map - (MPG, BOA)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dynamine postverta ( Cramer , 1779)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dynamine postverta. 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 Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by cotinis , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1
What is Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1?
Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1 (Dynamine postverta) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1?
Extremely similar to the Blue-eyed Sailor ( D. dyonis ), though larger. Female has three distinct white stripes across the upperside of the hindwings, vs. just one in the Blue-eyed. Male upperwing is bluer and has four black spots near the forewing apex.
Where is Four-spotted Sailor - Hodges#4534.1 found?
Range: s. TX (as a stray) to C. Amer. / Cuba - Map - (MPG, BOA)