Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2
Lithophane joannis
This record describes Lithophane joannis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Metzler & Covell reported specimens from southeastern Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky.
Seasonal Activity
Metzler & Covell reported October to April as the flight period.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Wagner (2006) reported Aesculus flava Aiton (yellow buckeye) as the host plant.
Life History
Wagner (2006) includes life cycle notes and description of larvae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Metzler & Covell stated "The specific epithet joannis is the genitive case of the Latin word for John. John H. Newman who introduced the second author to the study of Noctuidae, declined to be recognized with a patronym. Therefore this species is named for the first word of the type locality - John Bryan State Park- which is also by intentional coincidence the first name of Mr. Newman."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane joannis. 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 joannis - Hodges#9893.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2
Where is Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2 found?
Range: Metzler & Covell reported specimens from southeastern Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky.
What does Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2 eat?
The diet of the Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2 includes Wagner (2006) reported Aesculus flava Aiton (yellow buckeye) as the host plant..
When is Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2 active?
Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2: seasonal activity - Metzler & Covell reported October to April as the flight period..
What is the life cycle of a Lithophane joannis - Hodges#9893.2?
Wagner (2006) includes life cycle notes and description of larvae.