Meganola varia - Hodges#8987
Meganola varia
This record describes Meganola varia (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available in PDF or view online in the print references listed below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Nolidae (Nolid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Nolinae
- Genus
- Meganola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona to western Texas. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group shows a California record but the species is not on the California checklist. ( 5 ) Holotype ♂, Palmerlee, Cochise County, Arizona, United States.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is June to October. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Meganola varia. 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 Meganola varia - Hodges#8987 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Meganola varia - Hodges#8987
What is Meganola varia - Hodges#8987?
Meganola varia - Hodges#8987 (Meganola varia) is a species in the family Nolidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Meganola varia - Hodges#8987?
Barnes & Lindsey listed the wingspan as 26-32 mm.
How do you identify Meganola varia - Hodges#8987?
The original description is available in PDF or view online in the print references listed below.
Where is Meganola varia - Hodges#8987 found?
Range: Arizona to western Texas. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group shows a California record but the species is not on the California checklist. ( 5 ) Holotype ♂, Palmerlee, Cochise County, Arizona, United States.
What does Meganola varia - Hodges#8987 eat?
The diet of the Meganola varia - Hodges#8987 includes The larval host is unknown..
When is Meganola varia - Hodges#8987 active?
Meganola varia - Hodges#8987: seasonal activity - The flight period is June to October. ( 4 ).