Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519
Morrisonia mucens
This record describes Morrisonia mucens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Orthosiini
- Genus
- Morrisonia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas and Oklahoma to Florida and north along the Atlantic states to Maine. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Bug Guide - map of photo records submitted to the guide.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from February through October. ( 5 ) Florida is January to April and July to August. (Heppner) ( 7 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is repotedly Quercus L. (oak) ( 8 ) although the closely related M. confusa is widely polyphagous.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Morrisonia mucens. 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 Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Nina; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519
Where is Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519 found?
Range: Texas and Oklahoma to Florida and north along the Atlantic states to Maine. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Bug Guide - map of photo records submitted to the guide.
What does Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519 eat?
The diet of the Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519 includes Larval host is repotedly Quercus L. (oak) ( 8 ) although the closely related M. confusa is widely polyphagous..
When is Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519 active?
Morrisonia mucens - Hodges#10519: seasonal activity - Most records are from February through October. ( 5 ) Florida is January to April and July to August. (Heppner) ( 7 ).