Embola ionis - Hodges#2500
Embola ionis
This record describes Embola ionis (species). Recorded family: Heliodinidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Thorax | Thorax: Metallic gray to black. |
| Wings | Wings: Forewing, except base entirely orange. Base metallic gray to black, with an irregular border, sometimes appearing as an additional metallic gray spot. Five raised metallic gray oblong spots along outside (costal) edge and 3 raised metallic gray spots along inner margin from mid-wing to anal angle. Fringe gray, metallic whitish along inner edge to anal angle. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing black with gray fringe. Types: Holotype as Heliodines ionis male by Clarke, 1952. Type Locality: Illinois. In the United States National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. Type #61496. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Heliodinidae (Sun Moths)
- Genus
- Embola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Meadows and forest edges
Geographic Range
Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania ; Ontario
Seasonal Activity
Mid-June to mid-July in the north.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva is stem borer of (at least) Wild Four O'clocks Mirabilis nyctaginea according to microleps.org .
Life History
Female deposits pinkish-orange eggs on side of axillary buds. Larva enter stems and tunnel down. Larvae has 6 instars if over-wintering, 5 if not. Pupates in the stem. Over-winters as half-grown larvae. Larvae are waxy, whitish with dark head and collar (cervical shield). Mature larvae have spotted abdomens, and just before pupating, they become entirely yellow. Pupate in tunnel after 25 days. 3 generations per year in Illinois, probably only 1 or 2 in Ontario.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Embola ionis. 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 Embola ionis - Hodges#2500 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , lee_penner
Frequently Asked Questions About Embola ionis - Hodges#2500
What is Embola ionis - Hodges#2500?
Embola ionis - Hodges#2500 (Embola ionis) is a species in the family Heliodinidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Embola ionis - Hodges#2500?
forwing length 3.6 - 5.2 mm
How do you identify Embola ionis - Hodges#2500?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Thorax | Thorax: Metallic gray to black. |
| Wings | Wings: Forewing, except base entirely orange. Base metallic gray to black, with an irregular border, sometimes appearing as an additional metallic gray spot. Five raised metallic gray oblong spots along outside (costal) edge and 3 raised metallic gray spots along inner margin from mid-wing to anal angle. Fringe gray, metallic whitish along inner edge to anal angle. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing black with gray fringe. |
Where is Embola ionis - Hodges#2500 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Meadows and forest edges |
| Range | Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania ; Ontario |
What does Embola ionis - Hodges#2500 eat?
The diet of the Embola ionis - Hodges#2500 includes Larva is stem borer of (at least) Wild Four O'clocks Mirabilis nyctaginea according to microleps.org ..
When is Embola ionis - Hodges#2500 active?
Embola ionis - Hodges#2500: seasonal activity - Mid-June to mid-July in the north..
What is the life cycle of a Embola ionis - Hodges#2500?
Female deposits pinkish-orange eggs on side of axillary buds. Larva enter stems and tunnel down. Larvae has 6 instars if over-wintering, 5 if not. Pupates in the stem. Over-winters as half-grown larvae. Larvae are waxy, whitish with dark head and collar (cervical shield). Mature larvae have spotted abdomens, and just before pupating, they become entirely yellow. Pupate in tunnel after 25 days. 3 generations per year in Illinois, probably only 1 or 2 in Ontario.