Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601
Melipotis cellaris
This record describes Melipotis cellaris (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
male female Variable forewing pattern Species was described by Achille Guenée (1809-1880), a French lawyer and entomologist.
Identification notes
male female
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Melipotini
- Genus
- Melipotis
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 Texas ; Florida ; West Indies: Mexico to Brazil. Moth Photographers Group expands the range to include Louisiana, New Mexico and Kansas. Holotype from Colombia.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is year round in Texas. Heppner (2003) reported March, May to June, August and October from Florida. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) listed the host as unknown. ( 4 ) David L. Wagner (2011) listed the host as Acacia and presumably related legumes. ( 6 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melipotis cellaris. 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 Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , A. Hendrickson , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601
What is Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601?
Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601 (Melipotis cellaris) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601?
Wingspan 33-35 mm.
How do you identify Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601?
male female
Where is Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601 found?
Range: Heppner reported the range to include Texas ; Florida ; West Indies: Mexico to Brazil. Moth Photographers Group expands the range to include Louisiana, New Mexico and Kansas. Holotype from Colombia.
What does Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601 eat?
The diet of the Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601 includes Heppner (2003) listed the host as unknown. ( 4 ) David L. Wagner (2011) listed the host as Acacia and presumably related legumes. ( 6 ).
When is Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601 active?
Cellar Melipotis - Hodges#8601: seasonal activity - The flight period is year round in Texas. Heppner (2003) reported March, May to June, August and October from Florida. ( 4 ).