Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408
Oxycilla mitographa
This record describes Oxycilla mitographa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The two transverse lines are distinctive.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Rivulinae
- Genus
- Oxycilla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner included Virginia to Florida and Texas. , Moth Photographers Group expands the range northward to include Ohio.
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear to be most common from April to September. ( 4 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults from April to July in Florida. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the host plant is unknown. ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oxycilla mitographa. 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 Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408
What is Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408?
Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408 (Oxycilla mitographa) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408?
Grote (1873) reported a wingspan of 21-22 mm.
How do you identify Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408?
The two transverse lines are distinctive.
Where is Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408 found?
Range: Heppner included Virginia to Florida and Texas. , Moth Photographers Group expands the range northward to include Ohio.
What does Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408 eat?
The diet of the Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408 includes Heppner (2003) reported the host plant is unknown. ( 3 ).
When is Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408 active?
Oxycilla mitographa - Hodges#8408: seasonal activity - The adults appear to be most common from April to September. ( 4 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults from April to July in Florida. ( 3 ).