Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1
Hypena vetustalis
This record describes Hypena vetustalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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 reported the range as Florida to Texas, West Indies and Mexico. BOLD has records to Central America.
Seasonal Activity
Heppner reported adults in May, October to November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plant is Sida rhombifolia L. (jute). ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypena vetustalis. 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 Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1
Where is Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1 found?
Range: Heppner reported the range as Florida to Texas, West Indies and Mexico. BOLD has records to Central America.
What does Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1 eat?
The diet of the Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1 includes Larval host plant is Sida rhombifolia L. (jute). ,.
When is Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1 active?
Hypena vetustalis - Hodges#8454.1: seasonal activity - Heppner reported adults in May, October to November..