Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205
Halysidota davisii
This record describes Halysidota davisii (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing variably whitish to light brown with scattered dark markings along the costa - distinctly different than the complete bands extending across the wing in other species of Halysidota ; hindwing similarly colored but with no markings; abdomen yellow to reddish.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Halysidota
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and northwestern Texas (Watson, 1980).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: BugGuide records on Emory oak ( Quercus emoryi , Fagaceae) and hackberry ( Celtis , Ulmaceae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Dr. Davis (USA).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Halysidota davisii. 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 Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205
What is Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205?
Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205 (Halysidota davisii) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan about 45-60 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length: ♂ 24-29 mm, ♀ 26-32 mm (Watson, 1980). |
How do you identify Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205?
Adult - forewing variably whitish to light brown with scattered dark markings along the costa - distinctly different than the complete bands extending across the wing in other species of Halysidota ; hindwing similarly colored but with no markings; abdomen yellow to reddish.
Where is Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205 found?
Range: Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and northwestern Texas (Watson, 1980).
What does Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205 eat?
The diet of the Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205 includes BugGuide records on Emory oak ( Quercus emoryi , Fagaceae) and hackberry ( Celtis , Ulmaceae)..
When is Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205 active?
Davis' Tussock Moth - Hodges#8205: seasonal activity - Adults fly in July and August..