Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208
Heliolonche carolus
This record describes Heliolonche carolus (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heliothinae
- Genus
- Heliolonche
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California and Arizona.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Rafinesquia neomexicana Gray, and adults are frequently found nectaring on the blooms. * usda.gov - plant information
Life History
A small number of large eggs are deposited deep into the flower heads New Mexico plumeseed and hatch in about four days. The young larvae feed exclusively on the developing seeds and later switch to dry, mature seeds. They pass through five instars and burrow underground to pupate, waiting to emerge at the next cycle of summer rains when the host is flowering anew (Hardwick, 1968).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Heliolonche carolus. 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 Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Wolgemuth; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208
Where is Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208 found?
Range: Southern California and Arizona.
What does Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208 eat?
The diet of the Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208 includes Larval host is Rafinesquia neomexicana Gray, and adults are frequently found nectaring on the blooms. * usda.gov - plant information.
What is the life cycle of a Heliolonche carolus - Hodges#11208?
A small number of large eggs are deposited deep into the flower heads New Mexico plumeseed and hatch in about four days. The young larvae feed exclusively on the developing seeds and later switch to dry, mature seeds. They pass through five instars and burrow underground to pupate, waiting to emerge at the next cycle of summer rains when the host is flowering anew (Hardwick, 1968).