Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287
Horama panthalon
This record describes Horama panthalon (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Abdomen purplish/brown/black with many orange rings, hind legs black and orange with a large feathering on the tibiae (males *), antennae black with orange tips, thorax and head black with orange and white markings, wings brown. Some examples lack the orange abdominal bands Thought to be a Batesian mimic of paper wasps, Polistes species . *Sexual dimorphism in tibial scales not mentioned by Dietz and Duckworth , and they say males and females are similar. Common to abundant in southmost Texas . Verification needed that only males have tufts of hair-like scales on tibiae--all images to date seem to have this feature, and some of these have more plumose antennae than others, indicating both sexes are being seen-- Patrick Coin 4 February 2021. Subspecies:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Horama
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Usually found on flowers, esp. Eupatorium ( 3 )
Geographic Range
c. TX to S. Amer., strays from AZ to FL - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults nectar.
Life History
Caterpillar and larval food unrecorded (almost). "Adult has been collected at Wislizenia refracta var. mamillata (Capparidaceae)" ( 5 ) . That plant is called " jackass-clover or spectacle fruit". One record of caterpillar on Desert Yaupon, Schaefferia cuneifolia , (Celastraceae)--see iNaturalist .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Horama panthalon. 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 Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by cotinis , anitagould , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287
What is Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287?
Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287 (Horama panthalon) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287?
The wingspan is 32-34 mm.
How do you identify Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287?
Abdomen purplish/brown/black with many orange rings, hind legs black and orange with a large feathering on the tibiae (males *), antennae black with orange tips, thorax and head black with orange and white markings, wings brown. Some examples lack the orange abdominal bands Thought to be a Batesian mimic of paper wasps, Polistes species . *Sexual dimorphism in tibial scales not mentioned by Dietz and Duckworth , and they say males and females are similar.
Where is Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Usually found on flowers, esp. Eupatorium ( 3 ) |
| Range | c. TX to S. Amer., strays from AZ to FL - Map (MPG) |
What does Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287 eat?
The diet of the Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287 includes Adults nectar..
When is Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287 active?
Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287: seasonal activity - Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. ( 6 ).
What is the life cycle of a Texas Wasp Moth - Hodges#8287?
Caterpillar and larval food unrecorded (almost). Adult has been collected at Wislizenia refracta var. mamillata (Capparidaceae) ( 5 ) . That plant is called jackass-clover or spectacle fruit. One record of caterpillar on Desert Yaupon, Schaefferia cuneifolia , (Celastraceae)--see iNaturalist .