Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664
Lithacodes gracea
This record describes Lithacodes gracea (species). Recorded family: Limacodidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW reddish brown, with a narrow, white rigid line, slightly oblique line beyond the middle, followed by a narrow purple brown border. HW dark ocher.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Zygaenoidea
- Family
- Limacodidae (Slug Caterpillar Moths)
- Genus
- Lithacodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Distribution & Flight-period Chart
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithacodes gracea. 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 Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Dennis Profant; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , anitagould , Mike Quinn , gretchengrammer , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664
What is Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664?
Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664 (Lithacodes gracea) is a species in the family Limacodidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664?
Wingspan: 19mm
How do you identify Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664?
Adult : FW reddish brown, with a narrow, white rigid line, slightly oblique line beyond the middle, followed by a narrow purple brown border. HW dark ocher.
Where is Graceful Slug Moth - Hodges#4664 found?
Range: Distribution & Flight-period Chart