Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599
Melipotis fasciolaris
This record describes Melipotis fasciolaris (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: sexually dimorphic - male has pale whitish to yellowish diagonal band in AM area of forewing; female basal area of forewing entirely light yellowish-brown; remainder of forewing dark brown in both sexes except for slightly lighter subterminal area and large pale reniform spot with smoothly-rounded outer margin; outline of reniform spot diffuse, not sharply defined; PM line zigzagged but inconspicuous/faint hindwing black with large white basal patch and white strips along outer margin in anal angle and apical areas.
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
Habitat
Adults may be found resting on the ground but are difficult to spot among dead leaves; when flushed, they fly a short distance and may be approached closely if done slowly with no sudden movements.
Geographic Range
Southern United States (Georgia and Florida west through Texas to California) and south through tropics to Uruguay.
Seasonal Activity
Adults may be present all year throughout range but are most numerous in summer.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of mesquite ( Prosopis spp.) and presumably other plants in the southeastern states where mesquite is not present.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: FASCIOLARIS: from the Latin "fasciola", diminutive of "fascia" (a bandage or band) [in zoology, a short or narrow band of color]; presumably refers to the pale diagonal band on the male's forewing, and is the origin of the common name Fasciolated Melipotis
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melipotis fasciolaris. 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 Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599
What is Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599?
Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599 (Melipotis fasciolaris) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599?
Wingspan 33-43 mm, based on several Internet specimen photos.
How do you identify Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599?
Adult: sexually dimorphic - male has pale whitish to yellowish diagonal band in AM area of forewing; female basal area of forewing entirely light yellowish-brown; remainder of forewing dark brown in both sexes except for slightly lighter subterminal area and large pale reniform spot with smoothly-rounded outer margin; outline of reniform spot diffuse, not sharply defined; PM line zigzagged but inconspicuous/faint hindwing black with large white basal patch and white strips along outer margin in anal angle and apical areas.
Where is Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Adults may be found resting on the ground but are difficult to spot among dead leaves; when flushed, they fly a short distance and may be approached closely if done slowly with no sudden movements. |
| Range | Southern United States (Georgia and Florida west through Texas to California) and south through tropics to Uruguay. |
What does Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599 eat?
The diet of the Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599 includes Larvae feed on leaves of mesquite ( Prosopis spp.) and presumably other plants in the southeastern states where mesquite is not present..
When is Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599 active?
Fasciolated Melipotis - Hodges#8599: seasonal activity - Adults may be present all year throughout range but are most numerous in summer..