Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2
Mursa phtisialis
This record describes Mursa phtisialis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Boletobiinae
- Tribe
- Phytometrini
- Genus
- Mursa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Strays to Texas and Florida. , West Indies, Mexico to South America. Holotype: Haiti. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
January to February, August, November to December. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Malva acuta . The species is not known to breed in the United States. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mursa phtisialis. 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 Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2
How big is Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2?
Wingspan average 19 mm. ( 3 )
Where is Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2 found?
Range: Strays to Texas and Florida. , West Indies, Mexico to South America. Holotype: Haiti. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2 eat?
The diet of the Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2 includes Larval host is Malva acuta . The species is not known to breed in the United States. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ).
When is Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2 active?
Mursa phtisialis - Hodges#8477.2: seasonal activity - January to February, August, November to December. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ).