Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972
Macrurocampa gigantea
This record describes Macrurocampa gigantea (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Barnes & Benjamin (1924) original description is available online and linked in the print references. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Macrurocampa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and western Texas. Holotype from Arizona, Palmerlee, Huachuca Mts. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most often reported from July to September. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macrurocampa gigantea. 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 Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban
Frequently Asked Questions About Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972
What is Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972?
Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972 (Macrurocampa gigantea) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972?
Forewing length 18-23 mm.
How do you identify Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972?
Barnes & Benjamin (1924) original description is available online and linked in the print references. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
Where is Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972 found?
Range: Southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and western Texas. Holotype from Arizona, Palmerlee, Huachuca Mts. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972 eat?
The diet of the Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972 includes Unknown..
When is Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972 active?
Macrurocampa gigantea - Hodges#7972: seasonal activity - Adults are most often reported from July to September. ( 4 ).