Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021
Exyra fax
This record describes Exyra fax (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Original description online as Xanthoptera fax Grote. ,
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Exyra (Pitcherplant Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Manitoba to Nova Scotia and Maine south to Georgia and Texas. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly May to September. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Sarracenia purpurea L. (purple pitcher plant); larvae feed on the inner surface of the tubular leaves ( Illinois Wildflowers )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Exyra fax. 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 Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Kyhl Austin , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021
What is Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021?
Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021 (Exyra fax) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021?
Wingspan 20-22 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021?
Original description online as Xanthoptera fax Grote. ,
Where is Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021 found?
Range: Manitoba to Nova Scotia and Maine south to Georgia and Texas. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021 eat?
The diet of the Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021 includes Larval host is Sarracenia purpurea L. (purple pitcher plant); larvae feed on the inner surface of the tubular leaves ( Illinois Wildflowers ).
When is Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021 active?
Epauletted Pitcher-plant Moth - Hodges#9021: seasonal activity - Adults fly May to September. ( 3 ).