Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945
Nystalea indiana
This record describes Nystalea indiana (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Determined by Bob Patterson.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Nystaleinae
- Genus
- Nystalea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include Florida; West Indies.
Seasonal Activity
Heppner reported February, March, May to August, November and December in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner listed the following members of Myrtaceae. Eucalyptus sp. Psidium guajava L. (guava) P. molle Sw. (Brazilian guava)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nystalea indiana. 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 Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945
How do you identify Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945?
Determined by Bob Patterson.
Where is Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945 found?
Range: Heppner reported the range to include Florida; West Indies.
What does Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945 eat?
The diet of the Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945 includes Heppner listed the following members of Myrtaceae. Eucalyptus sp. Psidium guajava L. (guava) P. molle Sw. (Brazilian guava).
When is Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945 active?
Nystalea indiana - Hodges#7945: seasonal activity - Heppner reported February, March, May to August, November and December in Florida..