Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1
Plagiomimicus caesium
This record describes Plagiomimicus caesium (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Blanchard & Knudson stated it was uncertain if this species is a stray from northern Mexico or a resident of the sand dunes of Padre Island.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Stiriinae
- Tribe
- Stiriini
- Genus
- Plagiomimicus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Texas. Holotype ♂, Texas, Cameron County, Padre Island, 24-X-1982, collector Ed Knudson, National Museum of Natural History.
Seasonal Activity
September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Blanchard & Knudson did not mention a host plant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plagiomimicus caesium. 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 Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1
What is Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1?
Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1 (Plagiomimicus caesium) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1?
Blanchard & Knudson reported a forewing length of 14.2 mm.
Where is Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1 found?
Range: Southern Texas. Holotype ♂, Texas, Cameron County, Padre Island, 24-X-1982, collector Ed Knudson, National Museum of Natural History.
What does Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1 eat?
The diet of the Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1 includes Blanchard & Knudson did not mention a host plant..
When is Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1 active?
Plagiomimicus caesium - Hodges#9748.1: seasonal activity - September..