Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055
Lithacodia phya
This record describes Lithacodia phya (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The off-white thorax and basal patch on the forewing are distinctive.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Eustrotiinae
- Genus
- Lithacodia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona and New Mexico. Seitz reported specimens collected in Mexico. Holotype collected in Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear to be most common during the months of July to September. Santa Cruz County, Arizona, collected by Bordelon & Knudson, 8-VIII-2005.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host plant is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithacodia phya. 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 Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055
What is Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055?
Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055 (Lithacodia phya) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055?
Hampson (1910) reported a wingspan of 18 mm.
How do you identify Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055?
The off-white thorax and basal patch on the forewing are distinctive.
Where is Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055 found?
Range: Arizona and New Mexico. Seitz reported specimens collected in Mexico. Holotype collected in Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
What does Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055 eat?
The diet of the Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055 includes The larval host plant is unknown..
When is Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055 active?
Lithacodia phya - Hodges#9055: seasonal activity - The adults appear to be most common during the months of July to September. Santa Cruz County, Arizona, collected by Bordelon & Knudson, 8-VIII-2005..