Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979
Nycteola fletcheri
This record describes Nycteola fletcheri (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult- see original description in Print References below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Nolidae (Nolid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chloephorinae
- Genus
- Nycteola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
There are records from southern California, southern Arizona and western Texas. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include Goodding's willow ( Salix gooddingii , Salicaceae). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of David Steven Fletcher of the British Museum, who first recognized the species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nycteola fletcheri. 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 Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979
What is Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979?
Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979 (Nycteola fletcheri) is a species in the family Nolidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979?
Forewing length 12-13 mm.
How do you identify Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979?
Adult- see original description in Print References below.
Where is Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979 found?
Range: There are records from southern California, southern Arizona and western Texas. ,
What does Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979 eat?
The diet of the Nycteola fletcheri - Hodges#8979 includes Larval hosts include Goodding's willow ( Salix gooddingii , Salicaceae). ( 3 ).