Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7
Neoheliodines vernius
This record describes Neoheliodines vernius (species). Recorded family: Heliodinidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - original description available in Print References.
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, California and Baja California, Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Records from late February through May.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed in the flowers and fruits of desert wishbone-bush ( Mirabilis laevis var. laevis ; syn. Mirabilis californica ) and wishbone-bush ( Mirabilis laevis var. villosa ; syn. M. bigelovii ). ,
Life History
Pupation probably occurs in debris near the host. Adults are diurnal but will visit night blooming flowers in late evening.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet vernius is from an adjective of Latin origin, vernis, meaning "spring," so named because it flies in the spring months.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neoheliodines vernius. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7
What is Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7?
Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7 (Neoheliodines vernius) is a species in the family Heliodinidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7?
Forewing length 3-4.3 mm. ,
How do you identify Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7?
Adult - original description available in Print References.
Where is Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7 found?
Range: Arizona, California and Baja California, Mexico.
What does Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7 eat?
The diet of the Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7 includes Larvae feed in the flowers and fruits of desert wishbone-bush ( Mirabilis laevis var. laevis ; syn. Mirabilis californica ) and wishbone-bush ( Mirabilis laevis var. villosa ; syn. M. bigelovii ). ,.
When is Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7 active?
Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7: seasonal activity - Records from late February through May..
What is the life cycle of a Neoheliodines vernius - Hodges#2502.7?
Pupation probably occurs in debris near the host. Adults are diurnal but will visit night blooming flowers in late evening.