Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096
Eudesmia arida
This record describes Eudesmia arida (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray to blackish with broad transverse yellow band in median area, and narrow yellow band in subterminal area; subterminal band does not extend to costa or inner margin; hindwing blackish distally, yellow basally; body yellowish to light brownish
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Lithosiini
- Genus
- Eudesmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ to w. TX / Mex - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
June to Oct - MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on lichens growing on rocks, walls, or cliffs
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: arida : presumably refers to the arid climate within the range of this species, and is the origin of the suggested common name above (its "sister species" in North America [ E. menea ] occurs in extreme southern Texas where the climate is not so arid)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eudesmia arida. 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 Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096
What is Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096?
Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096 (Eudesmia arida) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096?
wingspan 23-30 mm, based on two Internet images
How do you identify Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096?
Adult: forewing dark gray to blackish with broad transverse yellow band in median area, and narrow yellow band in subterminal area; subterminal band does not extend to costa or inner margin; hindwing blackish distally, yellow basally; body yellowish to light brownish
Where is Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096 found?
Range: AZ to w. TX / Mex - Map (MPG)
What does Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096 eat?
The diet of the Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096 includes larvae feed on lichens growing on rocks, walls, or cliffs.
When is Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096 active?
Arid Eudesmia - Hodges#8096: seasonal activity - June to Oct - MPG.