Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949
Elasmia packardii
This record describes Elasmia packardii (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia: ♀ ♂
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
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly April to early October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plants include: western soapberry Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (Sapindaceae). Mexican buckeye Ungnadia speciosa (Sapindaceae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Alpheus Spring Packard Jr.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elasmia packardii. 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 packardii - Hodges#7949 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949
How big is Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949?
Forewing length: ♂ 12-15 mm. ♀ 13-16 mm.
How do you identify Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949?
Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949 found?
Range: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
What does Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949 eat?
The diet of the Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949 includes Larval host plants include: western soapberry Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (Sapindaceae). Mexican buckeye Ungnadia speciosa (Sapindaceae)..
When is Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949 active?
Elasmia packardii - Hodges#7949: seasonal activity - Adults fly April to early October..