Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1
Lithophane abita
This record describes Lithophane abita (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Most conclusively identified by male genitalia
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Lithophane (Pinions)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Maryland south to Florida, west to eastern Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in Louisiana from late November until late March. Recorded as early as October 17 (MD) to late April (MS, NC).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Bald Cypress ( Taxodium distichum ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species name is taken from the type location, a few miles from Abita Springs LA.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane abita. 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 Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Graham M , George Smiley
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1
What is Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1?
Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1 (Lithophane abita) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1?
Most conclusively identified by male genitalia
Where is Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1 found?
Range: Maryland south to Florida, west to eastern Texas.
What does Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1 eat?
The diet of the Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1 includes Larvae feed on Bald Cypress ( Taxodium distichum )..
When is Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1 active?
Lithophane abita - Hodges#9928.1: seasonal activity - Adults fly in Louisiana from late November until late March. Recorded as early as October 17 (MD) to late April (MS, NC)..