Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2
Leptodeuterocopus neales
This record describes Leptodeuterocopus neales (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Oxyptilus neales Walsingham, is available online in the print references below. Determined by Debbie Matthews Lott First United States record was collected at UV blacklight by John B. Heppner , 29 April 1978, Dade Co.: Chekika State Recreation Area (Grossman Hammock).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pterophoroidea
- Family
- Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
- Subfamily
- Deuterocopinae
- Genus
- Leptodeuterocopus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Life history is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leptodeuterocopus neales. 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 Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by treichard
Frequently Asked Questions About Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2
What is Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2?
Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2 (Leptodeuterocopus neales) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2?
Wingspan is 9.0-11.0 mm.
How do you identify Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2?
The original description as Oxyptilus neales Walsingham, is available online in the print references below. Determined by Debbie Matthews Lott
Where is Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2 found?
Range: Florida.
What is the life cycle of a Everglades Plume Moth - Hodges#6090.2?
Life history is unknown.