Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210
Heliolonche pictipennis
This record describes Heliolonche pictipennis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See PNW Moths reference for detailed description of adult
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
Seasonal Activity
Adults are exclusively diurnal, flying in late spring and early summer.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval food plants: Malacothrix glabrata , and Rafinesquia neomexicana , both closely related Asteraceae (HW). (See also U of AZ's Moths of Southeastern Arizona link below)
Life History
The moths fly among the foodplants and rest on the flower. The moth is enclosed by the petals of Malacothrix when the flower closes in the afternoon.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Heliolonche pictipennis. 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 pictipennis - Hodges#11210 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210
What is Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210?
Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210 (Heliolonche pictipennis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210?
Wingspan: 16–17 mm FWL: 7 - 8 mm
How do you identify Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210?
See PNW Moths reference for detailed description of adult
What does Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210 eat?
The diet of the Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210 includes Larval food plants: Malacothrix glabrata , and Rafinesquia neomexicana , both closely related Asteraceae (HW). (See also U of AZ's Moths of Southeastern Arizona link below).
When is Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210 active?
Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210: seasonal activity - Adults are exclusively diurnal, flying in late spring and early summer..
What is the life cycle of a Heliolonche pictipennis - Hodges#11210?
The moths fly among the foodplants and rest on the flower. The moth is enclosed by the petals of Malacothrix when the flower closes in the afternoon.