Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500
Metalectra quadrisignata
This record describes Metalectra quadrisignata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : wings covered extensively by medium grayish-brown ground color; diffuse blackish line runs through black reniform spot on FW, but there is no broad blackish band crossing wing in median area
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.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Fungi
Life History
Larva; pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metalectra quadrisignata. 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 Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , anitagould , Ron M. , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500
What is Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500?
Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500 (Metalectra quadrisignata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500?
Adult : wings covered extensively by medium grayish-brown ground color; diffuse blackish line runs through black reniform spot on FW, but there is no broad blackish band crossing wing in median area
What does Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500 eat?
The diet of the Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500 includes Fungi.
What is the life cycle of a Four-spotted Fungus Moth - Hodges#8500?
Larva; pupa; adult