Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729
Hemileuca oliviae
This record describes Hemileuca oliviae (species). Recorded family: Saturniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
- Subfamily
- Hemileucinae
- Tribe
- Hemileucini
- Genus
- Hemileuca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Arid: Grasslands and semi-desert
Geographic Range
New Mexico, Texas, w. Oklahoma, se. Colorado & sw. Kansas
Seasonal Activity
Adult flight period: Sept-Oct
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hemileuca oliviae. 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 Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bill Reynolds; Additional contributions by anitagould
Frequently Asked Questions About Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729
How big is Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729?
female 55 mm wingspan, male 43, based on MPG specimens
Where is Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid: Grasslands and semi-desert |
| Range | New Mexico, Texas, w. Oklahoma, se. Colorado & sw. Kansas |
When is Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729 active?
Hemileuca oliviae - Hodges#7729: seasonal activity - Adult flight period: Sept-Oct.