Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104
Polygrammate cadburyi
This record describes Polygrammate cadburyi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Franclemont (1939) original description is available online in the print references. This species was long mistaken for a lichen moth (Arctiinae: Lithosiini), but discovery of the larva revealed its acronictine affinity. Schmidt and Anweiler (2020) synonymized Comachara with Polygrammate . P. cadburyi and its sole congener, P. hebraeicum , share their host plant. This new generic placement is hardly obvious based on superficial characters:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acronictinae
- Genus
- Polygrammate
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This species is abundant in the tiny tupelo forest on Block Island , RI, but not a single adult has been observed anywhere else on the island in intensive surveying, including at sites under a mile away, indicating that the adults disperse minimally. ( 4 )
Geographic Range
Heppner (2003) reported the range to include Massachusetts to Florida, Missouri to Texas. ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Univoltine throughout its range, flying spring or early summer. On Block Island , RI, adults are abundant during a brief flight window in the island's tiny tupelo forest. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Black tupelo ( Nyssa sylvatica )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polygrammate cadburyi. 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 Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John R. Maxwell; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104
What is Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104?
Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104 (Polygrammate cadburyi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104?
Franclemont (1939) original description is available online in the print references.
Where is Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species is abundant in the tiny tupelo forest on Block Island , RI, but not a single adult has been observed anywhere else on the island in intensive surveying, including at sites under a mile away, indicating that the adults disperse minimally. ( 4 ) |
| Range | Heppner (2003) reported the range to include Massachusetts to Florida, Missouri to Texas. ( 3 ) |
What does Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104 eat?
The diet of the Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104 includes Black tupelo ( Nyssa sylvatica ).
When is Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104 active?
Cadbury's Lichen Moth - Hodges#8104: seasonal activity - Univoltine throughout its range, flying spring or early summer. On Block Island , RI, adults are abundant during a brief flight window in the island's tiny tupelo forest. ( 4 ).