Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607
Melipotis jucunda
This record describes Melipotis jucunda (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
see images at Moth Photographers Group
Identification notes
see images at Moth Photographers Group
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
Across most of the US and western Canada, but largely absent from New England - Map (MPG), ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Willow ( Salix bonplandia , S. wrighti ) Acacia sp. , Calliandra eriophylla . Wagner lists catclaw blackbead ( Pithecellobium unguis-cati ), oak, and willow.
Life History
Two or three broods in New Jersey, multiple generations in Deep South with mature caterpillars throughout growing season. larva; larva; pupa; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: jucunda - Latin for 'pleasant, merry'
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melipotis jucunda. 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 Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Fyn Kynd
Frequently Asked Questions About Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607
What is Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607?
Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607 (Melipotis jucunda) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607?
Wingspan 35-42 mm
How do you identify Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607?
see images at Moth Photographers Group
Where is Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607 found?
Range: Across most of the US and western Canada, but largely absent from New England - Map (MPG), ( 3 )
What does Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607 eat?
The diet of the Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607 includes Willow ( Salix bonplandia , S. wrighti ) Acacia sp. , Calliandra eriophylla . Wagner lists catclaw blackbead ( Pithecellobium unguis-cati ), oak, and willow..
What is the life cycle of a Merry Melipotis - Hodges#8607?
Two or three broods in New Jersey, multiple generations in Deep South with mature caterpillars throughout growing season. larva; larva; pupa; adult