Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969
Litodonta contrasta
This record describes Litodonta contrasta (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
From the key to species in MONA Fascicle 22.1B - forewing uniformly gray without areas of yellow; occasionally with light brown blotches beyond ST line
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Litodonta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
two disjunct populations - southeastern Arizona; central Oklahoma to central Texas
Seasonal Activity
June to August in Arizona; May to September in Oklahoma and Texas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Litodonta contrasta. 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 Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969
What is Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969?
Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969 (Litodonta contrasta) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969?
From the key to species in MONA Fascicle 22.1B - forewing uniformly gray without areas of yellow; occasionally with light brown blotches beyond ST line
Where is Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969 found?
Range: two disjunct populations - southeastern Arizona; central Oklahoma to central Texas
When is Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969 active?
Litodonta contrasta - Hodges#7969: seasonal activity - June to August in Arizona; May to September in Oklahoma and Texas.