Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407
Enaemia subfervens
This record describes Enaemia subfervens (species). Recorded family: Lacturidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Extremely variable. Ann Hendrickson per Matson/Wagner publication. Det. A. Hendrickson, 2018 Paraphrasing by Ann Hendrickson: The recent publication by Matson and Wagner referenced below states that L. subfervens is the most common and wide-ranging species in the United States. My understanding is that if the forewings are sprinkled with red scales, they are L. subfervens . They also discuss how difficult the Genus has been for many years and that many images of the Genus have been misidentified for years. Both L. basistriga and the newly identified L. rubritegula have very limited ranges and have pearly white wings with distinct red markings. L. basistriga is confined to deep South Texas and the newly identified L. rubritegula is found principally in limestone areas in the vicinity San Antonio, Texas, westward through the southern Hill Country - however they consider the range to still be in flux as the species my have been heretofore neglected.
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
Kansas to Louisiana and southern Texas. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
mostly Feb-May (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Bumelia ( Sideroxylon lanuginosum , Sapotaceae). Prefers new growth.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Enaemia subfervens (Walker, 1854), n. comb. in Heppner (2019), was formerly in the genus Lactura and includes as synonyms Enaemia psammitis Zeller, 1872 and 2408 Enaemia rhodocentra (Meyrick, 1913) and includes as a subspecies Enaemia subfervens sapeloensis (Matson & Wagner, 2019) in Matson et al. (2019), ZooKeys, 846: 90.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Enaemia subfervens. 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 subfervens - Hodges#2407 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , A. Hendrickson
Frequently Asked Questions About Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407
What is Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407?
Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407 (Enaemia subfervens) is a species in the family Lacturidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Extremely variable. Ann Hendrickson per Matson/Wagner publication. Det. A. Hendrickson, 2018
Where is Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407 found?
Range: Kansas to Louisiana and southern Texas. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407 eat?
The diet of the Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407 includes Bumelia ( Sideroxylon lanuginosum , Sapotaceae). Prefers new growth..
When is Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407 active?
Enaemia subfervens - Hodges#2407: seasonal activity - mostly Feb-May (MPG).