Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613
Forsebia cinis
This record describes Forsebia cinis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
♂ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .♀ - Notes distinguishing female Forsebia cinis from Allerastria albiciliatus by Jan Metlevski .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Melipotini
- Genus
- Forsebia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California and southern Nevada to western Texas and Oklahoma. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from late February through October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Parkinsonia and other woody legumes. yellow palo verde ( Parkinsonia microphylla ) is a likely host in the Sonoran Desert and southern California.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Forsebia cinis. 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 Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613
What is Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613?
Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613 (Forsebia cinis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613?
Forewing length 14-16 mm.
How do you identify Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613?
♂ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .♀ - Notes distinguishing female Forsebia cinis from Allerastria albiciliatus by Jan Metlevski .
Where is Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613 found?
Range: Southern California and southern Nevada to western Texas and Oklahoma. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613 eat?
The diet of the Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613 includes Larvae feed on Parkinsonia and other woody legumes. yellow palo verde ( Parkinsonia microphylla ) is a likely host in the Sonoran Desert and southern California..
When is Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613 active?
Forsebia Moth - Hodges#8613: seasonal activity - Adults fly from late February through October..