Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023
Exyra ridingsii
This record describes Exyra ridingsii (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
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Exyra (Pitcherplant Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Bogs and damp areas where hostplant grows; adults may be found resting inside the tanks of Yellow Pitcherplants.
Geographic Range
North Carolina to Florida and Alabama.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in spring.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed mainly on the leaves of Yellow Pitcherplant ( Sarracenia flava ) and sometimes Sarracenia minor .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Exyra ridingsii. 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 Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by cotinis , Hannah Nendick-Mason , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023
How big is Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023?
wingspan 24-31 mm; average 30 mm
Where is Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Bogs and damp areas where hostplant grows; adults may be found resting inside the tanks of Yellow Pitcherplants. |
| Range | North Carolina to Florida and Alabama. |
What does Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023 eat?
The diet of the Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023 includes larvae feed mainly on the leaves of Yellow Pitcherplant ( Sarracenia flava ) and sometimes Sarracenia minor ..
When is Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023 active?
Exyra ridingsii - Hodges#9023: seasonal activity - Adults fly in spring..