Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307
Euscirrhopterus gloveri
This record describes Euscirrhopterus gloveri (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Caterpillars vary much in coloring and pattern, particularly in the amount of black. Commonly comes to lights in large numbers.
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
Nebraska and Kansas, southward throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Purslane (Portulacaceae). Larvae often found on little hogweed ( Portulaca oleracea ) and orange fameflower ( Phemeranthus aurantiacum ). After summer rains, areas with Portulaca oleracea may be literally swarming with the larvae. Have also been reared by Dave Ferguson in New Mexico on desert horsepurslane ( Trianthema portulacastrum ). Powell & Opler (2009) add rose moss ( Portulaca grandiflora ) and, in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), the common beet ( Beta vulgaris ). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Professor Townend Glover (1813-1883), the first entomologist at the USDA and one of the finest illustrators of insects in the United States.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euscirrhopterus gloveri. 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 Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Ethan Kistler , David Ferguson , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307
What is Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307?
Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307 (Euscirrhopterus gloveri) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307?
Forewing length 15-20 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307?
Caterpillars vary much in coloring and pattern, particularly in the amount of black.
Where is Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307 found?
Range: Nebraska and Kansas, southward throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. ( 4 )
What does Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307 eat?
The diet of the Purslane Moth - Hodges#9307 includes Purslane (Portulacaceae). Larvae often found on little hogweed ( Portulaca oleracea ) and orange fameflower ( Phemeranthus aurantiacum ). After summer rains, areas with Portulaca oleracea may be literally swarming with the larvae. Have also been reared by Dave Ferguson in New Mexico on desert horsepurslane ( Trianthema portulacastrum ). Powell & Opler (2009) add rose moss ( Portulaca grandiflora ) and, in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae), the common beet ( Beta vulgaris ). ( 3 ).