Red Satyr - Hodges#4579
Megisto rubricata
This record describes Megisto rubricata (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Below, the adult has a red patch on the forewing (not always visible depending how wings are held). Above, red patches and one eyespot on each wing.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Satyrinae
- Tribe
- Satyrini
- Genus
- Megisto
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona, New Mexico, and south-central Kansas, southward through Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico to Guatemala. Should also be watched for on the wooded high mesas near the south border of eastern Colorado.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ) and St Augustine Grass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Megisto rubricata. 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 Red Satyr - Hodges#4579 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , David Ferguson , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Satyr - Hodges#4579
What is Red Satyr - Hodges#4579?
Red Satyr - Hodges#4579 (Megisto rubricata) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Red Satyr - Hodges#4579?
Below, the adult has a red patch on the forewing (not always visible depending how wings are held). Above, red patches and one eyespot on each wing.
Where is Red Satyr - Hodges#4579 found?
Range: Arizona, New Mexico, and south-central Kansas, southward through Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico to Guatemala. Should also be watched for on the wooded high mesas near the south border of eastern Colorado.
What does Red Satyr - Hodges#4579 eat?
The diet of the Red Satyr - Hodges#4579 includes Larvae feed on Bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon ) and St Augustine Grass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum )..