Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304
Gerrodes minatea
This record describes Gerrodes minatea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Gerra radicalis is similar, but considerably smaller, with dark border of hind wing wider, and on front wing with outer bands above not curving around inner margin of wing.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Agaristinae
- Genus
- Gerrodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se. Arizona and perhaps sw. New Mexico south to El Salvador
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grape Vitis species; perhaps other Vitaceae also.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gerrodes minatea. 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 Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Ted Kropiewnicki , David Ferguson , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304
What is Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304?
Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304 (Gerrodes minatea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304?
wingspan about 45-53 mm (Based on MPG specimen, specimens in the guide, and Dyar's description)
How do you identify Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304?
Gerra radicalis is similar, but considerably smaller, with dark border of hind wing wider, and on front wing with outer bands above not curving around inner margin of wing.
Where is Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304 found?
Range: se. Arizona and perhaps sw. New Mexico south to El Salvador
What does Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304 eat?
The diet of the Gerrodes minatea - Hodges#9304 includes Grape Vitis species; perhaps other Vitaceae also..