Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308
Euscirrhopterus cosyra
This record describes Euscirrhopterus cosyra (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Agaristinae
- Genus
- Euscirrhopterus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern and western Texas, southern New Mexico to southern Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Adults seen May-October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Assorted Cactaceae, favoring new growth on Pricklypear ( Opuntia species), and especially on Cholla ( Cylindropuntia species), but reported from genera as unrelated as Carnegeia (Saguaro). In Arizona commonly found on Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, C. arbuscula, C. spinosior, C. versicolor , etc. Reported as reared on Cylindropuntia leptocaulis in Texas, and commonly found on C. leptocaulis, C. kleiniae , and sometimes C. imbricata in Texas and s. New Mexico.
Life History
Larvae feed externally on cactus, rather than boring inside like many other cactus-feeders (Powell & Opler, 2009).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euscirrhopterus cosyra. 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 Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jim McClarin; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Ethan Kistler , David Ferguson , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308
How big is Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308?
Forewing length 1.7-1.9 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009).
Where is Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308 found?
Range: Southern and western Texas, southern New Mexico to southern Arizona.
What does Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308 eat?
The diet of the Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308 includes Assorted Cactaceae, favoring new growth on Pricklypear ( Opuntia species), and especially on Cholla ( Cylindropuntia species), but reported from genera as unrelated as Carnegeia (Saguaro). In Arizona commonly found on Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, C. arbuscula, C. spinosior, C. versicolor , etc. Reported as reared on Cylindropuntia leptocaulis in Texas, and commonly found on C. leptocaulis, C. kleiniae , and sometimes C. imbricata in Texas and s. New Mexico..
When is Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308 active?
Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308: seasonal activity - Adults seen May-October..
What is the life cycle of a Staghorn Cholla Moth - Hodges#9308?
Larvae feed externally on cactus, rather than boring inside like many other cactus-feeders (Powell & Opler, 2009).