Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010
Oedemasia concinna
This record describes Oedemasia concinna (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Caterpillar has bright red head and red hump over segment A1. Striping is variable but includes black, yellow and white pinstripes. Takes up a defensive posture raising the rear end when disturbed.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Oedemasia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Canada: NS to western ON; USA: ME south to FL and west to IL and eastern TX and a western population in CO, UT and AZ (possibly contiguous "through northern Rockies or across the Great Plains"). Type locality ( concinna ): Georgia. Type locality ( nitida ): Janesville, MD.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on a wide range of woody plants, from many different families.
Life History
1. First instar caterpillars and eggs. 2 and 3. Later instars. 4. Prepupa. 5. Adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Oedemasia concinna (Smith, 1797), n. comb. in Becker , was formerly placed in the genus Schizura .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oedemasia concinna. 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 Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , john and jane balaban , Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Maury Heiman , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010
What is Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010?
Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010 (Oedemasia concinna) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010?
Larva to 35mm
How do you identify Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Caterpillar has bright red head and red hump over segment A1. Striping is variable but includes black, yellow and white pinstripes. Takes up a defensive posture raising the rear end when disturbed.
Where is Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010 found?
Range: Canada: NS to western ON; USA: ME south to FL and west to IL and eastern TX and a western population in CO, UT and AZ (possibly contiguous through northern Rockies or across the Great Plains). Type locality ( concinna ): Georgia. Type locality ( nitida ): Janesville, MD.
What does Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010 eat?
The diet of the Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010 includes Larvae feed on a wide range of woody plants, from many different families..
What is the life cycle of a Red-humped Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#8010?
1. First instar caterpillars and eggs. 2 and 3. Later instars. 4. Prepupa. 5. Adult