Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447
Mammifrontia rileyi
This record describes Mammifrontia rileyi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance

Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Mammifrontia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California. Holotype ♂ from Glendale, California in April.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April to July.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mammifrontia rileyi. 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 Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447
What is Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447?
Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447 (Mammifrontia rileyi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447?
Benjamin (1936) listed the wingspan. ♂ 29 mm. ♀ 30-34 mm.
How do you identify Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447?
Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447 found?
Range: California. Holotype ♂ from Glendale, California in April.
When is Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447 active?
Mammifrontia rileyi - Hodges#9447: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April to July..
FROM LOOKING IT UP TO GETTING TO KNOW IT
Make sense of the bugs at home.50 household bug profiles for you. Photos, coloring, and activities for curious kids.





