Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506
Metalectra miserulata
This record describes Metalectra miserulata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 6 ) There are 4 narrowly separated BINs at BOLD for Metalectra miserulata indicating that this may be a complex with more than one species. - 2/8/2018
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Boletobiinae
- Tribe
- Boletobiini
- Genus
- Metalectra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas to Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Syntype collected in New Mexico. ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from May to September. ( 8 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae of the genus Metalectra are known to be fungus feeders, with a few possibly feeding on spruce. ( 5 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metalectra miserulata. 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 Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506
What is Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506?
Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506 (Metalectra miserulata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506?
Grote listed the wingspan as 20-22 mm.
How do you identify Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 6 ) There are 4 narrowly separated BINs at BOLD for Metalectra miserulata indicating that this may be a complex with more than one species. - 2/8/2018
Where is Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506 found?
Range: Texas to Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Syntype collected in New Mexico. ( 3 )
What does Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506 eat?
The diet of the Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506 includes The larvae of the genus Metalectra are known to be fungus feeders, with a few possibly feeding on spruce. ( 5 ).
When is Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506 active?
Metalectra miserulata - Hodges#8506: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from May to September. ( 8 ).