Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726
Gondysia smithii
This record describes Gondysia smithii (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Genitalia: ♀ ♂ Unless you have evidence of rearing, dissection or a DNA test, the images of moths in these two species should be placed ----> here Larvae:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Omopterini
- Genus
- Gondysia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on wing from April to September. There are multiple generations per year.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva; larva:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gondysia smithii. 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 Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726
What is Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726?
Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726 (Gondysia smithii) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726?
wingspan ≈37–40mm
How do you identify Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726?
Genitalia: ♀ ♂ Unless you have evidence of rearing, dissection or a DNA test, the images of moths in these two species should be placed ----> here Larvae:
When is Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726 active?
Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726: seasonal activity - Adults are on wing from April to September. There are multiple generations per year..
What is the life cycle of a Smith's Darkwing Moth - Hodges#8726?
Larva; larva: