Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099
Ponometia alata
This record describes Ponometia alata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smith (1905) original description as Acontia alata is online in the print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acontiinae
- Tribe
- Acontiini
- Genus
- Ponometia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona. ( 5 ) Holotype collected Baboquavaria Mountains, Pima County, Arizona. 15 July 1930; collector O.C. Poling. ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
July August. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Poole ( 3 ) reports the immature stages and host are unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia alata. 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 Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099
What is Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099?
Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099 (Ponometia alata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099?
Poole lists the forewing length about 7 mm. ( 3 ) Smith (1905) listed a wingspan of 15-16 mm. ( 4 )
How do you identify Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099?
Smith (1905) original description as Acontia alata is online in the print references.
Where is Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099 found?
Range: Arizona. ( 5 ) Holotype collected Baboquavaria Mountains, Pima County, Arizona. 15 July 1930; collector O.C. Poling. ( 4 )
What does Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099 includes Poole ( 3 ) reports the immature stages and host are unknown..
When is Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099 active?
Ponometia alata - Hodges#9099: seasonal activity - July August. ( 5 ).