LepidopteraErebidae

Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459

Hypena degesalis

This record describes Hypena degesalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 - Hypena degesalis
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Family
Erebidae
Subfamily
Hypeninae
Genus
Hypena

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Heppner (2003) listed the range to include Florida; Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Brazil. ( 5 )

Seasonal Activity

Heppner (2003) reported March to June, August to December. ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group displays March to December records. ( 4 )

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the host unknown. ( 5 )

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypena degesalis. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 (5)

Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459

How big is Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459?

Wingspan about 20 mm. ( 4 )

Where is Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 found?

Range: Heppner (2003) listed the range to include Florida; Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Brazil. ( 5 )

What does Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 eat?

The diet of the Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 includes Heppner (2003) reported the host unknown. ( 5 ).

When is Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459 active?

Hypena degesalis - Hodges#8459: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reported March to June, August to December. ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group displays March to December records. ( 4 ).

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.