Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597
Litocala sexsignata
This record describes Litocala sexsignata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Melipotini
- Genus
- Litocala
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Washington, Montana, Utah, and Colorado south to southern California, New Mexico and west Texas (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in March to June .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of oak, or chinquapin, and possibly manzanita .
Life History
Adults are strictly diurnal and have small eyes; often seen nectaring at flowers or sipping moisture in muddy areas .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: SEXSIGNATA: "six-spotted"; refers to the six white spots on the hindwings (three spots on each wing)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Litocala sexsignata. 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 Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597
How big is Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597?
Forewing length 13 - 15 mm
Where is Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597 found?
Range: Washington, Montana, Utah, and Colorado south to southern California, New Mexico and west Texas (MPG)
What does Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597 eat?
The diet of the Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597 includes Larvae feed on leaves of oak, or chinquapin, and possibly manzanita ..
When is Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597 active?
Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597: seasonal activity - Adults fly in March to June ..
What is the life cycle of a Litocala Moth - Hodges#8597?
Adults are strictly diurnal and have small eyes; often seen nectaring at flowers or sipping moisture in muddy areas .