Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404
Enaemia basistriga
This record describes Enaemia basistriga (species). Recorded family: Lacturidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
White without speckling, an antemedial line of three red spots forming a slight arc and a postmedial line of four red spots forming a chevron. Lacks dorsal red scales on the tegula (patch of scales covering the wing base) and has short subcostal red dash at wing base. See Matson & Wagner.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Zygaenoidea
- Family
- Lacturidae (Tropical Burnet Moths)
- Genus
- Enaemia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Hidalgo Co. and Cameron Co., TX
Seasonal Activity
Peak activity March to May and September into November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Saffron plum ( Sideroxylon celastrinum ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Enaemia basistriga (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913), n. comb. in Heppner (2019), was formerly in the genus Lactura .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Enaemia basistriga. 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 Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , George Smiley , A. Hendrickson , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404
What is Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404?
Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404 (Enaemia basistriga) is a species in the family Lacturidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404?
White without speckling, an antemedial line of three red spots forming a slight arc and a postmedial line of four red spots forming a chevron. Lacks dorsal red scales on the tegula (patch of scales covering the wing base) and has short subcostal red dash at wing base. See Matson & Wagner.
Where is Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404 found?
Range: Hidalgo Co. and Cameron Co., TX
What does Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404 eat?
The diet of the Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404 includes Saffron plum ( Sideroxylon celastrinum )..
When is Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404 active?
Enaemia basistriga - Hodges#2404: seasonal activity - Peak activity March to May and September into November..