Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1
Marathyssa furcata
This record describes Marathyssa furcata (species). Recorded family: Euteliidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Euteliidae (Euteliid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Euteliinae
- Genus
- Marathyssa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include Florida; Texas; Mexico. Moth Photographers group includes Arizona. ,
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April through September. Heppner report April and May in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the host as unknown. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Marathyssa furcata (Walker, 1865), new combination following Zahiri et al. (2023), was formerly in the genus Eutelia. -- MPG
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Marathyssa furcata. 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 Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Steve Nanz , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1
How big is Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1?
Wingspan about 30 mm.
Where is Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1 found?
Range: Heppner reported the range to include Florida; Texas; Mexico. Moth Photographers group includes Arizona. ,
What does Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1 eat?
The diet of the Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1 includes Heppner (2003) reported the host as unknown. ( 3 ).
When is Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1 active?
Florida Eutelia - Hodges#8968.1: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April through September. Heppner report April and May in Florida..