Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909
Lithophane tepida
This record describes Lithophane tepida (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
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
Across southern Canada and much of the eastern United States. ,
Seasonal Activity
Lithophane tepida , like other members of its genus, ecloses as an adult in the fall, generally in early- to mid-September. Adults overwinter and can be seen in early spring, sometimes as late as early May.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane tepida. 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 Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909
How big is Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909?
Hampson (1906) listed the wingspan as 40-44 mm.
How do you identify Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909?
genitalia:
Where is Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909 found?
Range: Across southern Canada and much of the eastern United States. ,
When is Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909 active?
Luke-warm Pinion Moth - Hodges#9909: seasonal activity - Lithophane tepida , like other members of its genus, ecloses as an adult in the fall, generally in early- to mid-September. Adults overwinter and can be seen in early spring, sometimes as late as early May..