Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803
Paramiana smaragdina
This record describes Paramiana smaragdina (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Amphipyrinae
- Tribe
- Psaphidini
- Genus
- Paramiana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona and the Chisos Mountains of western Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly August through September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Paramiana smaragdina. 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 Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803
How big is Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803?
The forewing length averages 13 mm.
Where is Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803 found?
Range: Southern Arizona and the Chisos Mountains of western Texas.
When is Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803 active?
Paramiana smaragdina - Hodges#9803: seasonal activity - Adults fly August through September..