Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099
Pagara simplex
This record describes Pagara simplex (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Det. J & J Balaban, 2016 apparently uncommon , never common (in FL)
Identification notes
Det. J & J Balaban, 2016
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Pagara
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US (mostly: TX-FL-MD-KS) - Map (MPG, BAMONA)
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Mar-Oct , but can be yr round in southern states (BG, MPG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Common Milkweed ( A. syriaca ) - BG data Green Milkweed ( A. viridis ) - BG data, BAMONA
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pagara simplex Walker, 1856
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pagara simplex. 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 Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099
What is Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099?
Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099 (Pagara simplex) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099?
Det. J & J Balaban, 2016
Where is Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099 found?
Range: se US (mostly: TX-FL-MD-KS) - Map (MPG, BAMONA)
What does Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099 eat?
The diet of the Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099 includes Common Milkweed ( A. syriaca ) - BG data Green Milkweed ( A. viridis ) - BG data, BAMONA.
When is Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099 active?
Mouse-colored Lichen Moth - Hodges#8099: seasonal activity - mostly: Mar-Oct , but can be yr round in southern states (BG, MPG data).