Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084
Ponometia bicolorata
This record describes Ponometia bicolorata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The adult can be separated from the similar P. semiflava by the ochreous brown scales of the pronotum and head, which contrast with the yellow on the wing ( Jan Metlevski via iNaturalist.com ) and by the outer area of forewing not so dark or contrasting as compared to P. semiflava .
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
Southern Arizona to western Texas and south into Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae have been reared on Heliotropium indicum (Indian heliotrope)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia bicolorata. 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 bicolorata - Hodges#9084 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chris Grinter , Randy Hardy , Nathaniel Green
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084
What is Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084?
Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084 (Ponometia bicolorata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084?
The adult can be separated from the similar P. semiflava by the ochreous brown scales of the pronotum and head, which contrast with the yellow on the wing ( Jan Metlevski via iNaturalist.com ) and by the outer area of forewing not so dark or contrasting as compared to P. semiflava .
Where is Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084 found?
Range: Southern Arizona to western Texas and south into Mexico.
What does Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia bicolorata - Hodges#9084 includes The larvae have been reared on Heliotropium indicum (Indian heliotrope).