Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703
Malacosoma incurva
This record describes Malacosoma incurva (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The gender of Malacosoma is neuter, so adjectivic species names ending -a are considered wrong spellings.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Lasiocampoidea
- Family
- Lasiocampidae (Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Lasiocampinae
- Tribe
- Lasiocampini
- Genus
- Malacosoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southwestern North America: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval hosts include: Populus fremontii (Fremont cottonwood). Salix (willow). Prunus (plum).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Malacosoma incurvum (Hy. Edwards, 1882)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Malacosoma incurva. 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 Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Boris Bueche , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703
What is Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703?
Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703 (Malacosoma incurva) is a species in the family Lasiocampidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703?
Wingspan about 27 mm.
Where is Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703 found?
Range: Southwestern North America: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah.
What does Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703 eat?
The diet of the Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7703 includes The larval hosts include: Populus fremontii (Fremont cottonwood). Salix (willow). Prunus (plum)..