Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598
Melipotis perpendicularis
This record describes Melipotis perpendicularis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Melipotis perpendicularis in Louisiana - PDF by Vernon Antoine Brou Jr. with figures of four male and four female phenotypes
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
s. CA to FL-GA - Map (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host in Arizona is hopbush ( Dodonaea viscosa ) (Crumb, 1956). That species also occurs in Florida but not within the range of the species in Texas where perhaps some other species in the Sapindaceae may be the host (e.g. soapberry, Sapindus spp., or ???).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melipotis perpendicularis. 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 Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598
What is Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598?
Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598 (Melipotis perpendicularis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598?
Wingspan 35-40 mm. Larvae to 33 mm (Crumb, 1956).
How do you identify Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598?
Melipotis perpendicularis in Louisiana - PDF by Vernon Antoine Brou Jr. with figures of four male and four female phenotypes
Where is Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598 found?
Range: s. CA to FL-GA - Map (MPG)
What does Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598 eat?
The diet of the Melipotis perpendicularis - Hodges#8598 includes Larval host in Arizona is hopbush ( Dodonaea viscosa ) (Crumb, 1956). That species also occurs in Florida but not within the range of the species in Texas where perhaps some other species in the Sapindaceae may be the host (e.g. soapberry, Sapindus spp., or ???)..