Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1
Marimatha squala
This record describes Marimatha squala (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The description of the adults including genitalia is available in the PDF. The legs are yellow and flecked with brown scaling, more heavily on the middle legs, forelegs, and in females.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Eustrotiinae
- Genus
- Marimatha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ferris & LaFontaine reported the range to include Arizona and southward to Costa Rica.
Seasonal Activity
Ferris & LaFontaine reported the flight period as mid-July to mid-August.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Ferris & LaFontaine stated "The species name is derived from the shark genus Squalus in reference to the sharkfin-like process on the dorsal margin of the male valva."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Marimatha squala. 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 Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1
What is Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1?
Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1 (Marimatha squala) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1?
The description of the adults including genitalia is available in the PDF. The legs are yellow and flecked with brown scaling, more heavily on the middle legs, forelegs, and in females.
Where is Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1 found?
Range: Ferris & LaFontaine reported the range to include Arizona and southward to Costa Rica.
When is Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1 active?
Marimatha squala - Hodges#9044.1: seasonal activity - Ferris & LaFontaine reported the flight period as mid-July to mid-August..