Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126
Leptarctia californiae
This record describes Leptarctia californiae (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray to black with or without white spots (usually along costa at AM, PM, and/or subterminal lines); hindwing varies from mostly black to mostly orange, sometimes black with bold yellow, white, or orange markings; male antennae pectinate; female antennae simple. Highly variable . Taxonomists apparently had difficulty in classifying this species, probably due to its great variation in color; eleven synonyms were proposed by four authors between the years 1869 and 1889. Adults are active during daylight hours. diurnal
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Leptarctia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Mexico and Colorado to California, north to British Columbia. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from March to July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leptarctia californiae. 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 Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126
What is Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126?
Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126 (Leptarctia californiae) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126?
wingspan 26-34 mm, based on photos by Bruce Walsh
How do you identify Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126?
Adult: forewing dark gray to black with or without white spots (usually along costa at AM, PM, and/or subterminal lines); hindwing varies from mostly black to mostly orange, sometimes black with bold yellow, white, or orange markings; male antennae pectinate; female antennae simple. Highly variable .
Where is Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126 found?
Range: New Mexico and Colorado to California, north to British Columbia. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection locations and dates.
What does Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126 eat?
The diet of the Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126 includes Larvae feed on a variety of herbaceous plants..
When is Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126 active?
Leptarctia californiae - Hodges#8126: seasonal activity - Most records are from March to July..