Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405
Oxycilla tripla
This record describes Oxycilla tripla (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available online in the print references below. (Grote) Some caterpillar notes in PDF. ( 5 )
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
Southern Arizona. ( 6 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 7 ) Also occurs in Mexico. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from July to October. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been recorded on Desmodium (ticktrefoil). ( 7 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oxycilla tripla. 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 tripla - Hodges#8405 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405
What is Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405?
Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405 (Oxycilla tripla) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405?
Wingspan 24-27 mm. ( 4 )
How do you identify Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405?
The original description is available online in the print references below. (Grote) Some caterpillar notes in PDF. ( 5 )
Where is Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405 found?
Range: Southern Arizona. ( 6 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 7 ) Also occurs in Mexico. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405 eat?
The diet of the Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405 includes Larvae have been recorded on Desmodium (ticktrefoil). ( 7 ).
When is Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405 active?
Oxycilla tripla - Hodges#8405: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from July to October. ( 4 ).