Egira curialis - Hodges#10511
Egira curialis
This record describes Egira curialis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - mottled red, gray, and black, with a red and white lateral band. ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Orthosiini
- Genus
- Egira
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western North America, as far east as Colorado and New Mexico. Common in California. ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly January through May. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on a variety of hardwoods, including oak, cherry and hackberry. ( 3 ) A pest of citrus (Grafton-Cardwell, Montez & McClain, 2001).
Life History
See Grafton-Cardwell, Montez & McClain (2001) in Print References.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Egira curialis. 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 Egira curialis - Hodges#10511 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Egira curialis - Hodges#10511
What is Egira curialis - Hodges#10511?
Egira curialis - Hodges#10511 (Egira curialis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Egira curialis - Hodges#10511?
Forewing length 14-17 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Egira curialis - Hodges#10511?
Larva - mottled red, gray, and black, with a red and white lateral band. ( 3 )
Where is Egira curialis - Hodges#10511 found?
Range: Western North America, as far east as Colorado and New Mexico. Common in California. ( 3 )
What does Egira curialis - Hodges#10511 eat?
The diet of the Egira curialis - Hodges#10511 includes Larvae feed on a variety of hardwoods, including oak, cherry and hackberry. ( 3 ) A pest of citrus (Grafton-Cardwell, Montez & McClain, 2001)..
When is Egira curialis - Hodges#10511 active?
Egira curialis - Hodges#10511: seasonal activity - Adults fly January through May. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ).
What is the life cycle of a Egira curialis - Hodges#10511?
See Grafton-Cardwell, Montez & McClain (2001) in Print References.