Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901
Lithophane contenta
This record describes Lithophane contenta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote original description available online in the print references. Pacific Northwest Moths has a detailed description. Crumb described the larvae. Determined by Lars Crabo. 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
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the range to include the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Crumb (1956) listed oak. ( 6 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane contenta. 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 contenta - Hodges#9901 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robert Lord Zimlich; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , JoAnneRusso , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901
What is Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901?
Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901 (Lithophane contenta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901?
Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 17-18 mm. Grote reported one wingspan of 38 mm.
How do you identify Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901?
Grote original description available online in the print references. Pacific Northwest Moths has a detailed description. Crumb described the larvae. Determined by Lars Crabo. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901 found?
Range: Powell & Opler (2009) reported the range to include the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California. ( 5 )
What does Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901 eat?
The diet of the Lithophane contenta - Hodges#9901 includes Crumb (1956) listed oak. ( 6 ).