Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540
Gonodonta nutrix
This record describes Gonodonta nutrix (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing basal two-thirds dark brown or dark gray to blackish except for broad white or pale yellow strip along costa to apex (the strip is displaced by a black triangular patch at base of costa); distal third of wing medium brown or gray with inconspicuous wavy lines; hindwing yellow to dark orangish-yellow with black terminal band and inner margin; fringe white or cream-colored; top of head and palps white; thorax dark brown or black; abdomen yellow or orange
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Calpinae
- Tribe
- Calpini
- Genus
- Gonodonta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
tropical: Florida, and from Mexico to Paraguay
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Annona species, American Brunfelsia ( Brunfelsia americana ), and tomatoes adults pierce the cuticle of fruit with their proboscis, and are sometimes pests on Citrus species - hence the common name Citrus Fruit-piercer
Life History
early instar larva; final instar larva; cocoon; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gonodonta nutrix. 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 Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540
What is Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540?
Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540 (Gonodonta nutrix) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540?
wingspan 36-40 mm, based on two Internet photos
How do you identify Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540?
Adult: forewing basal two-thirds dark brown or dark gray to blackish except for broad white or pale yellow strip along costa to apex (the strip is displaced by a black triangular patch at base of costa); distal third of wing medium brown or gray with inconspicuous wavy lines; hindwing yellow to dark orangish-yellow with black terminal band and inner margin; fringe white or cream-colored; top of head and palps white; thorax dark brown or black; abdomen yellow or orange
Where is Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540 found?
Range: tropical: Florida, and from Mexico to Paraguay
What does Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540 eat?
The diet of the Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540 includes larvae feed on Annona species, American Brunfelsia ( Brunfelsia americana ), and tomatoes adults pierce the cuticle of fruit with their proboscis, and are sometimes pests on Citrus species - hence the common name Citrus Fruit-piercer.
What is the life cycle of a Citrus Fruit-piercer - Hodges#8540?
early instar larva; final instar larva; cocoon; adult