Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144
Hypsocompe permaculata
This record describes Hypsocompe permaculata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with many black solid rectangular spots arranged loosely in rows; hindwing white; thorax white with black spots (including a row down the middle); legs black with large white patches
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Hypsocompe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
short-grass prairies, meadows
Geographic Range
western United States and southwestern Canada
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler reported the main flight period is June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva; pupa; newly emerged adult; fully emerged adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypsocompe permaculata. 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 Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Maury Heiman , David Ferguson , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144
What is Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144?
Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144 (Hypsocompe permaculata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144?
Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 16-19 mm.
How do you identify Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144?
Adult: forewing white with many black solid rectangular spots arranged loosely in rows; hindwing white; thorax white with black spots (including a row down the middle); legs black with large white patches
Where is Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | short-grass prairies, meadows |
| Range | western United States and southwestern Canada |
When is Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144 active?
Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler reported the main flight period is June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Many-spotted Tiger Moth - Hodges#8144?
Larva; pupa; newly emerged adult; fully emerged adult