Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024
Exyra semicrocea
This record describes Exyra semicrocea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - typical form has basal half of forewing bright yellow, distal half dark gray, divided by straight median line at right-angles to costa; some individuals have completely pale yellow forewing except for faint subterminal line; hindwing typically dark gray but may be almost white in pale forms; fringe color varies from black to almost white; top of head and collar black; top of thorax yellow.
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
Southeastern states: North Carolina to Florida, west to Mississippi.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on various pitcherplants ( Sarracenia spp.), specifically Hooded Pitcherplant ( S. minor ), S. psittacina, S. sledgei, S. drummondii, S. rubra, and S. flava . When feeding on S. flava , it is usually replaced by Exyra ridingsii that may occur in the area.
Life History
See Riley, 1874 (208) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Exyra semicrocea. 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 Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024
What is Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024?
Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024 (Exyra semicrocea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024?
wingspan 16-26 mm; average 24 mm
How do you identify Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024?
Adult - typical form has basal half of forewing bright yellow, distal half dark gray, divided by straight median line at right-angles to costa; some individuals have completely pale yellow forewing except for faint subterminal line; hindwing typically dark gray but may be almost white in pale forms; fringe color varies from black to almost white; top of head and collar black; top of thorax yellow.
Where is Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024 found?
Range: Southeastern states: North Carolina to Florida, west to Mississippi.
What does Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024 eat?
The diet of the Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024 includes Larvae feed on various pitcherplants ( Sarracenia spp.), specifically Hooded Pitcherplant ( S. minor ), S. psittacina, S. sledgei, S. drummondii, S. rubra, and S. flava . When feeding on S. flava , it is usually replaced by Exyra ridingsii that may occur in the area..
What is the life cycle of a Pitcher Plant Mining Moth - Hodges#9024?
See Riley, 1874 (208) .