Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7
Epiphile adrasta
This record describes Epiphile adrasta (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upperside brilliant orange with broad black bands. Rusty brown under the hindwings with faded eyespots along the hindwing margins and near the forewing apices. Forewing underside has similar pattern to upperside, but usually mostly concealed under the hindwing when perched. First U.S. Record: Santa Ana NWR, Alamo, Hidalgo Co., Texas - 1973
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Biblidinae
- Tribe
- Callicorini
- Genus
- Epiphile (Banners)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Ecuador - Map (MPG, BOA)
Seasonal Activity
October through January in Texas, year-round in Mexico
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults feed on sap, rotting or overripe fruit, and animal feces. Caterpillars found on vines of the family Sapindaceae, including Serjania spp.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Epiphile adrasta Hewitson, 1861
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epiphile adrasta. 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 Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7
What is Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7?
Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7 (Epiphile adrasta) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7?
Upperside brilliant orange with broad black bands. Rusty brown under the hindwings with faded eyespots along the hindwing margins and near the forewing apices. Forewing underside has similar pattern to upperside, but usually mostly concealed under the hindwing when perched.
Where is Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7 found?
Range: s. TX (as a stray) to Ecuador - Map (MPG, BOA)
What does Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7 eat?
The diet of the Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7 includes Adults feed on sap, rotting or overripe fruit, and animal feces. Caterpillars found on vines of the family Sapindaceae, including Serjania spp..
When is Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7 active?
Common Banner - Hodges#4544.7: seasonal activity - October through January in Texas, year-round in Mexico.