White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017
Ianassa lignicolor
This record describes Ianassa lignicolor (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Mature caterpillar blotched and mottled in green white and brown. Dorsum of A1 drawn into forward-projecting horn. Head with characteristic mottling. (Wagner) Early instars are gregarious, yellow in color. Like other related prominents, the caterpillar feeds along leaf margins and hold its body flush against the edge, looking like a somewhat damaged leaf margin from a distance.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Ianassa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Canada: NS to southern SK; USA: ME south to FL and west to MN and TX. [cite:2095638159] Type locality ( lignicolor ): "United States." Type locality ( lignigera ): "United States." Type locality ( virgata ): Cambridge, MA; Seekonk, MA; Lansing, MI.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed mostly on beech, chestnut and oak leaves.
Life History
Larva; older larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ianassa lignicolor. 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 White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by cotinis , Hannah Nendick-Mason , john and jane balaban , Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017
What is White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017?
White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017 (Ianassa lignicolor) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017?
Larva to 45 mm
How do you identify White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017?
Mature caterpillar blotched and mottled in green white and brown. Dorsum of A1 drawn into forward-projecting horn. Head with characteristic mottling. (Wagner) Early instars are gregarious, yellow in color.
Where is White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017 found?
Range: Canada: NS to southern SK; USA: ME south to FL and west to MN and TX. [cite:2095638159] Type locality ( lignicolor ): United States. Type locality ( lignigera ): United States. Type locality ( virgata ): Cambridge, MA; Seekonk, MA; Lansing, MI.
What does White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017 eat?
The diet of the White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017 includes Caterpillars feed mostly on beech, chestnut and oak leaves..
What is the life cycle of a White-streaked Prominent - Hodges#8017?
Larva; older larva; adult