Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246
Lerina incarnata
This record describes Lerina incarnata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Walker (1856) description. |
| Head | Head above, thorax, and abdomen towards the tip thickly clothed with crimson hairs. Palpi, proboscis, antennae, and legs black. |
| Thorax | Thorax with a black dorsal stripe, not extending to the front. |
| Wings | Wings metallic bluish green, not hairy. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Lerina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se AZ to C. Amer.
Seasonal Activity
Mar-Apr (MPG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Pine-needle Milkweed ( Asclepias linaria , Asclepiadaceae)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lerina incarnata Walker, 1854 Phylogenetic sequence # 930388
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lerina incarnata. 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 Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ted Kropiewnicki; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246
What is Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246?
Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246 (Lerina incarnata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Walker (1856) description. |
| Head | Head above, thorax, and abdomen towards the tip thickly clothed with crimson hairs. Palpi, proboscis, antennae, and legs black. |
| Thorax | Thorax with a black dorsal stripe, not extending to the front. |
| Wings | Wings metallic bluish green, not hairy. |
Where is Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246 found?
Range: se AZ to C. Amer.
What does Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246 eat?
The diet of the Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246 includes Pine-needle Milkweed ( Asclepias linaria , Asclepiadaceae).
When is Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246 active?
Crimson-bodied Lichen Moth - Hodges#8246: seasonal activity - Mar-Apr (MPG data).