Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056
Homophoberia cristata
This record describes Homophoberia cristata (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
- Condicinae
- Tribe
- Condicini
- Genus
- Homophoberia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Spatterdock ( Nuphar luteum )
Life History
Average adult life-span is 6 days with a maximum of 13 days. Females typically deposit eggs on the upper surface of leaves singly or in irregular groups. A single female is capable of laying upwards of 900 eggs during her reproductive period. Most of the eggs are deposited in the first few days after emergence from the pupa. The first instars are translucent green with numerous spots and measure only 2 mm in length. Later instars are pale green with dark red markings on the sides and measure upwards of 3.2 cm in length. There are a total of 5 larval instars with a total development of about 26 days. Just prior to pupation the larvae turn a deep red color. The larvae reportedly swim to shore to pupate in the soil. They create a silken lined chamber in the soil in which to pupate. The pupae are dark brown and measure 14 mm in length. Total pupation time is about 9 days. While it has been reported that this species pupates in the soil pupae are frequently found within white silken cocoons on the upper surface of spatterdock leaves or under rolled edges of leaves. They can also be found on leaves of nearby emergent plant species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Homophoberia cristata. 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 Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056
How big is Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056?
23-30mm
What does Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056 eat?
The diet of the Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056 includes Spatterdock ( Nuphar luteum ).
What is the life cycle of a Waterlily Moth - Hodges#9056?
Average adult life-span is 6 days with a maximum of 13 days. Females typically deposit eggs on the upper surface of leaves singly or in irregular groups. A single female is capable of laying upwards of 900 eggs during her reproductive period. Most of the eggs are deposited in the first few days after emergence from the pupa. The first instars are translucent green with numerous spots and measure only 2 mm in length. Later instars are pale green with dark red markings on the sides and measure upwards of 3.2 cm in length. There are a total of 5 larval instars with a total development of about 26 days. Just prior to pupation the larvae turn a deep red color. The larvae reportedly swim to shore to pupate in the soil. They create a silken lined chamber in the soil in which to pupate. The pupae are dark brown and measure 14 mm in length. Total pupation time is about 9 days. While it has been reported that this species pupates in the soil pupae are frequently found within white silken cocoons on the upper surface of spatterdock leaves or under rolled edges of leaves. They can also be found on leaves of nearby emergent plant species.