Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732
Euclidia ardita
This record describes Euclidia ardita (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
In flight Euclidia greatly resemble skippers of the genus Erynnis ; they flush from the ground and fly rapidly for 20 meters or so before dropping back to the ground (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Euclidiini
- Genus
- Euclidia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
coastal Oregon and California west of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada divide
Seasonal Activity
strictly diurnal adults fly March to early June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is deerweed, Lotus scoparius (Fabaceae) according to McFarland, who observed wild females fluttering near the plants
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euclidia ardita. 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 Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732
What is Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732?
Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732 (Euclidia ardita) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732?
forewing length 1.4 - 1.8 cm
Where is Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732 found?
Range: coastal Oregon and California west of the Cascade-Sierra Nevada divide
What does Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732 eat?
The diet of the Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732 includes larval host is deerweed, Lotus scoparius (Fabaceae) according to McFarland, who observed wild females fluttering near the plants.
When is Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732 active?
Euclidia ardita - Hodges#8732: seasonal activity - strictly diurnal adults fly March to early June.