Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474
Hemeroplanis incusalis
This record describes Hemeroplanis incusalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - highly variable, with pale and darker forms. Summer specimens rarely as pale as spring specimens (Franclemont, 1966).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Boletobiinae
- Tribe
- Phytometrini
- Genus
- Hemeroplanis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Low deserts and mountains up to at least 5600' (Franclemont, 1966).
Geographic Range
Arizona, southern California and southern Nevada (based on records here and at the MPG).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed on mesquite and other legumes.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hemeroplanis incusalis. 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 Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Ron M. , margarethe brummermann , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474
What is Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474?
Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474 (Hemeroplanis incusalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474?
Wingspan 23-26 mm.
How do you identify Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474?
Adult - highly variable, with pale and darker forms. Summer specimens rarely as pale as spring specimens (Franclemont, 1966).
Where is Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Low deserts and mountains up to at least 5600' (Franclemont, 1966). |
| Range | Arizona, southern California and southern Nevada (based on records here and at the MPG). |
What does Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474 eat?
The diet of the Hemeroplanis incusalis - Hodges#8474 includes Caterpillars feed on mesquite and other legumes..