Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429
Mompha bottimeri
This record describes Mompha bottimeri (species). Recorded family: Momphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Momphidae (Momphid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Momphinae
- Genus
- Mompha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida to South Carolina and Mississippi. , , , Maine record on Moth Photographers Group?
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to October. Heppner reported adults in February and from April to November in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the larvae feed on the seeds of Helianthemun spp. (Cistaceae). Helianthemun corumbosum Michx. (pine barren frostweed). ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The species is named in honor of L. J. Bottimer.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mompha bottimeri. 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 Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429
How big is Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429?
Wingspan 9-11 mm.
Where is Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429 found?
Range: Florida to South Carolina and Mississippi. , , , Maine record on Moth Photographers Group?
What does Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429 eat?
The diet of the Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429 includes Heppner (2003) reported the larvae feed on the seeds of Helianthemun spp. (Cistaceae). Helianthemun corumbosum Michx. (pine barren frostweed). ( 5 ).
When is Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429 active?
Bottimer's Mompha Moth - Hodges#1429: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to October. Heppner reported adults in February and from April to November in Florida..