Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089
Ponometia binocula
This record describes Ponometia binocula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | forewing is bright white with the outer half crossed by a wide, dark brown and gray band. The costa is white for the basal two-thirds then divided by an orange patch. A dark round spot ringed with paler scales is at the end of the disc. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings are white and shaded with gray-brown along the outer margin upper half. Type specimen from Bastrop County, Texas |
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
Habitat
Prairie (considered a good indicator species for a healthy prairie)
Geographic Range
Great Plains from southern Manitoba west to southeastern Alberta, southwest to Arizona.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia binocula. 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 Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089
What is Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089?
Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089 (Ponometia binocula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089?
wingspan about 2 cm
How do you identify Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | forewing is bright white with the outer half crossed by a wide, dark brown and gray band. The costa is white for the basal two-thirds then divided by an orange patch. A dark round spot ringed with paler scales is at the end of the disc. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings are white and shaded with gray-brown along the outer margin upper half. Type specimen from Bastrop County, Texas |
Where is Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Prairie (considered a good indicator species for a healthy prairie) |
| Range | Great Plains from southern Manitoba west to southeastern Alberta, southwest to Arizona. |
What does Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089 eat?
The diet of the Prairie Bird-dropping Moth - Hodges#9089 includes larval host is unknown.