Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659
Heteranassa mima
This record describes Heteranassa mima (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larva - extraordinarily variable. abundant in s. TX Heteranassa fraterna was synonymized with H. mima by Homziak et al.. Behavior:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Omopterini
- Genus
- Heteranassa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Florida records may be strays. MPG records indicate California to Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Heteranassa fraterna : Knudson & Borderlon (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) report the adults fly March to October in western Texas. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heteranassa mima : Larval hosts are mesquite ( Prosopis ) and occasionally catclaw ( Acacia ). Heteranassa fraterna : Larval hosts are mesquites ( Prosopis ) and sometimes catclaw ( Acacia greggi ). screwbean mesquite ( Prosopis pubescens ) and velvet mesquite ( Prosopis velutina ) (Southwestmoths.org).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Heteranassa mima. 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 Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659
What is Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659?
Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659 (Heteranassa mima) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659?
Larva to 33 mm. Wingspan about 27-33 mm.
How do you identify Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Larva - extraordinarily variable.
Where is Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659 found?
Range: Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Florida records may be strays. MPG records indicate California to Texas.
What does Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659 eat?
The diet of the Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659 includes Heteranassa mima : Larval hosts are mesquite ( Prosopis ) and occasionally catclaw ( Acacia ). Heteranassa fraterna : Larval hosts are mesquites ( Prosopis ) and sometimes catclaw ( Acacia greggi ). screwbean mesquite ( Prosopis pubescens ) and velvet mesquite ( Prosopis velutina ) (Southwestmoths.org)..
When is Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659 active?
Heteranassa mima - Hodges#8659: seasonal activity - Heteranassa fraterna : Knudson & Borderlon (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) report the adults fly March to October in western Texas. ( 3 ).