Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556
Litoprosopus futilis
This record describes Litoprosopus futilis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brown to orangish with broken double AM and PM lines, not contrasting much against ground color of wing; hindwing brown with large white-edged black spot near anal angle; the spot has two white linear dashes inside it; fringe white Larva: head and cervical shield black; body pale pink with sparse long white hairs protruding from black tubercles on each abdominal segment; spiracles black; larvae turn very pink shortly before pupating larvae regurgitate when disturbed, and the discharged material appears to deter some predators larvae form cocoons from bits of cloth, fiberglass, and other synthetic materials after leaving foodplant; can be a minor household pest
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Dyopsinae
- Genus
- Litoprosopus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
on or near larval foodplants (various species of palm)
Geographic Range
coast of se states (s.TX-FL-NC) - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Mar-Sept, yr-round in TX & FL (MPG) larvae present in spring
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae bore in flower stalks and buds of palm trees in the genera Sabal , Serenoa , and Washingtonia large larvae sometimes eat smaller larvae of the same species
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Litoprosopus futilis. 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 Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556
What is Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556?
Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556 (Litoprosopus futilis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556?
wingspan 40-48 mm larva length to about 40 mm
How do you identify Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556?
Adult: forewing brown to orangish with broken double AM and PM lines, not contrasting much against ground color of wing; hindwing brown with large white-edged black spot near anal angle; the spot has two white linear dashes inside it; fringe white Larva: head and cervical shield black; body pale pink with sparse long white hairs protruding from black tubercles on each abdominal segment; spiracles black; larvae turn very pink shortly before pupating
Where is Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | on or near larval foodplants (various species of palm) |
| Range | coast of se states (s.TX-FL-NC) - Map (MPG) |
What does Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556 eat?
The diet of the Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556 includes larvae bore in flower stalks and buds of palm trees in the genera Sabal , Serenoa , and Washingtonia large larvae sometimes eat smaller larvae of the same species.
When is Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556 active?
Palmetto Borer Moth - Hodges#8556: seasonal activity - Mar-Sept, yr-round in TX & FL (MPG) larvae present in spring.