Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3
Neoheliodines arizonense
This record describes Neoheliodines arizonense (species). Recorded family: Heliodinidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Heliodinidae (Sun Moths)
- Genus
- Neoheliodines
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona and possibly New Mexico
Seasonal Activity
adults fly late July through September in southern Arizona
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is Mirabilis longiflora
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neoheliodines arizonense. 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 Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Edward Ruden , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3
How big is Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3?
forewing length 3.9 - 5.6 mm
Where is Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3 found?
Range: Arizona and possibly New Mexico
What does Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3 eat?
The diet of the Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3 includes larval host is Mirabilis longiflora.
When is Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3 active?
Neoheliodines arizonense - Hodges#2502.3: seasonal activity - adults fly late July through September in southern Arizona.