Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425
Meropleon cosmion
This record describes Meropleon cosmion (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished from the other Meropleon by the strong contrasting white areas of thee forewing.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Meropleon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern United States with records north to New Jersey and west to Texas. , , , , Lectotype: USA: Louisiana, Elm Park. (Ferguson, 1982) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Records of adults from September to December; add January for Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on stems of: ( 8 ) , ( 7 ) Sugarcane plumegrass, Erianthus giganteus (Walter) Pers. Canarygrass, Phalaris L. sp. Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Meropleon cosmion. 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 Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425
What is Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425?
Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425 (Meropleon cosmion) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425?
Distinguished from the other Meropleon by the strong contrasting white areas of thee forewing.
Where is Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425 found?
Range: Southeastern United States with records north to New Jersey and west to Texas. , , , , Lectotype: USA: Louisiana, Elm Park. (Ferguson, 1982) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425 eat?
The diet of the Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425 includes Larvae feed on stems of: ( 8 ) , ( 7 ) Sugarcane plumegrass, Erianthus giganteus (Walter) Pers. Canarygrass, Phalaris L. sp. Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L..
When is Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425 active?
Meropleon cosmion - Hodges#9425: seasonal activity - Records of adults from September to December; add January for Florida..