Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1
Elasmia mandela
This record describes Elasmia mandela (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Nystaleinae
- Genus
- Elasmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The subspecies Elasmia mandela santanna is found in Texas and Oklahoma Elasmia mandela is found in Mexico and Costa Rico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April through October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plants include: Unganadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elasmia mandela. 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 Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1
How big is Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1?
Forewing length: ♂ 17-18 mm. ♀ 18-20 mm.
Where is Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1 found?
Range: The subspecies Elasmia mandela santanna is found in Texas and Oklahoma Elasmia mandela is found in Mexico and Costa Rico.
What does Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1 eat?
The diet of the Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1 includes Larval host plants include: Unganadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye)..
When is Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1 active?
Elasmia mandela - Hodges#7950.1: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April through October..