Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033
Gnophaela clappiana
This record describes Gnophaela clappiana (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing is much less marked than the other Gnophaela species in North America. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen is iridescent blue. ( 3 ) Comstock (1937) description of the larva is in PDF. ( 4 ) |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Gnophaela
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona and New Mexico to Colorado. ( 3 ) Holland described the species from specimens collected at Williams River, Colorado.
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler (2009) reported adults fly late July to early August. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Comstock (1937) did not identify the plant that the larvae were collected on. ( 4 ) Powell & Opler (2009) reported the larval host is unknown. ( 3 ) Adults are diurnal and take nectar from blooms.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gnophaela clappiana. 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 Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033
What is Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033?
Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033 (Gnophaela clappiana) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033?
Forewing length 21-25 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing is much less marked than the other Gnophaela species in North America. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen is iridescent blue. ( 3 ) Comstock (1937) description of the larva is in PDF. ( 4 ) |
Where is Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033 found?
Range: Arizona and New Mexico to Colorado. ( 3 ) Holland described the species from specimens collected at Williams River, Colorado.
What does Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033 eat?
The diet of the Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033 includes Comstock (1937) did not identify the plant that the larvae were collected on. ( 4 ) Powell & Opler (2009) reported the larval host is unknown. ( 3 ) Adults are diurnal and take nectar from blooms..
When is Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033 active?
Gnophaela clappiana - Hodges#8033: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler (2009) reported adults fly late July to early August. ( 3 ).