Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2
Physula albipunctilla
This record describes Physula albipunctilla (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Rolfe, A.K. (2011) included Physula albipunctilla in the diet of Mormoops blainvillei , a bat species in Puerto Rico. PDF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Herminiinae
- Genus
- Physula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) Heppner (2003) includes Cuba in the range. ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) recorded adults in Florida during the months of May, September and November. ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group adds January and March for Florida. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the host plant as unknown. ( 5 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Physula albipunctilla. 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 Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2
What is Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2?
Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2 (Physula albipunctilla) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2?
Schaus originally described the wingspan as 24 mm.
Where is Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2 found?
Range: Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) Heppner (2003) includes Cuba in the range. ( 5 )
What does Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2 eat?
The diet of the Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2 includes Heppner (2003) reported the host plant as unknown. ( 5 ).
When is Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2 active?
Physula albipunctilla - Hodges#8390.2: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) recorded adults in Florida during the months of May, September and November. ( 5 ) Moth Photographers Group adds January and March for Florida. ( 3 ).