Giant White - Hodges#4199
Ganyra josephina
This record describes Ganyra josephina (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male is entirely white except for a single round, black spot in the forewing. Females may have a few diffuse black or brown spots or a brownish wash near the one clear spot; also a faint brown edge.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows)
- Subfamily
- Pierinae
- Tribe
- Pierini
- Genus
- Ganyra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
c. TX (as a stray) to Panama - Map (MPG, BOA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are nectar feeders, often seen on Lantana sp. and Eupatorium sp. Caterpillars feed on foliage of trees in the family Capparidaceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Ganyra josephina (Salvin & Godman, 1868)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ganyra josephina. 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 Giant White - Hodges#4199 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Giant White - Hodges#4199
What is Giant White - Hodges#4199?
Giant White - Hodges#4199 (Ganyra josephina) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Giant White - Hodges#4199?
Male is entirely white except for a single round, black spot in the forewing. Females may have a few diffuse black or brown spots or a brownish wash near the one clear spot; also a faint brown edge.
Where is Giant White - Hodges#4199 found?
Range: c. TX (as a stray) to Panama - Map (MPG, BOA)
What does Giant White - Hodges#4199 eat?
The diet of the Giant White - Hodges#4199 includes Adults are nectar feeders, often seen on Lantana sp. and Eupatorium sp. Caterpillars feed on foliage of trees in the family Capparidaceae..