Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248
Ectypia mexicana
This record describes Ectypia mexicana (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Appears to be distinguished from Ectypia clio by having thinner black streaks on the FWs and only two black stripes on the thorax. Both species are distinguished from Ectypia bivittata by have black streaks on the FWs rather than a series of spots and short dashes. Original description in French is available here from Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Ectypia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Described from a single male from "Mexico"; CONABIO lists records from Federal District and Querétaro. Records in Texas include Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Uvalde counties (Lepidopterist's Society Seasonal Database).
Seasonal Activity
Records in Texas are from April and July-September. Records in central Mexico from March-July.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ectypia mexicana. 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 Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248
What is Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248?
Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248 (Ectypia mexicana) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248?
Wingspan about 38 mm. .
How do you identify Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248?
Appears to be distinguished from Ectypia clio by having thinner black streaks on the FWs and only two black stripes on the thorax. Both species are distinguished from Ectypia bivittata by have black streaks on the FWs rather than a series of spots and short dashes.
Where is Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248 found?
Range: Described from a single male from Mexico; CONABIO lists records from Federal District and Querétaro. Records in Texas include Brewster, Jeff Davis, and Uvalde counties (Lepidopterist's Society Seasonal Database).
When is Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248 active?
Ectypia mexicana - Hodges#8248: seasonal activity - Records in Texas are from April and July-September. Records in central Mexico from March-July..