Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504
Egira variabilis
This record describes Egira variabilis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smith (1891) original description as Stretchia variabilis is available online in the print references.
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
California to western Texas, north to southern Alberta and British Columbia. , , , , ,
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from March to June. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host is thought to be Pinus flexilis (limber pine).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Egira variabilis. 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 variabilis - Hodges#10504 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504
What is Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504?
Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504 (Egira variabilis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504?
Forewing length is 15-17 mm.
How do you identify Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504?
Smith (1891) original description as Stretchia variabilis is available online in the print references.
Where is Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504 found?
Range: California to western Texas, north to southern Alberta and British Columbia. , , , , ,
What does Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504 eat?
The diet of the Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504 includes The larval host is thought to be Pinus flexilis (limber pine)..
When is Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504 active?
Egira variabilis - Hodges#10504: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from March to June. ( 5 ).