Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667
Metria bilineata
This record describes Metria bilineata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
variable, see series of images at Moth Photographers Group Type coll'ed by Townsend, 10 June 1895, Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Omopterini
- Genus
- Metria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
common across southmost TX, ranges n. to Corpus Christi, historical records from MS & FL - Map
Seasonal Activity
Feb-Oct
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae host on Texas ebony ( Ebenopsis ebano , Fabaceae) (Poole, 1989)
Life History
pretty common at [fruit] bait in the lower Rio Grande Valley (Mike Rickard, pers. obser.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metria bilineata. 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 Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667
What is Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667?
Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667 (Metria bilineata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667?
Wingspan 44 mm (type) (pg. 102)
How do you identify Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667?
variable, see series of images at Moth Photographers Group
Where is Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667 found?
Range: common across southmost TX, ranges n. to Corpus Christi, historical records from MS & FL - Map
What does Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667 eat?
The diet of the Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667 includes Larvae host on Texas ebony ( Ebenopsis ebano , Fabaceae) (Poole, 1989).
When is Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667 active?
Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667: seasonal activity - Feb-Oct.
What is the life cycle of a Ebony Metria - Hodges#8667?
pretty common at [fruit] bait in the lower Rio Grande Valley (Mike Rickard, pers. obser.)