Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413
Neoligia tonsa
This record describes Neoligia tonsa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Listed as Oligia tonsa on many checklists available online.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Neoligia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widespread records across North America. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 )
Seasonal Activity
The flight period appears to be May to October with the peak in July and August. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plant is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Neoligia tonsa. 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 Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413
What is Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413?
Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413 (Neoligia tonsa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413?
Wingspan about 25 mm.
How do you identify Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
Where is Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413 found?
Range: Widespread records across North America. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 )
What does Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413 eat?
The diet of the Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413 includes Larval host plant is unknown..
When is Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413 active?
Neoligia tonsa - Hodges#9413: seasonal activity - The flight period appears to be May to October with the peak in July and August. ( 4 ).