Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094
Ponometia cuta
This record describes Ponometia cuta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smith original description as Acontia cuta is available online to read or PDF.
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
Poole lists the range to inlude western Texas to southern California and most of northern Mexico. Moth Photographers Group map Holotype from Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April to September. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Poole reports host and immature stages are unknown. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia cuta. 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 cuta - Hodges#9094 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Chris Grinter , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094
What is Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094?
Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094 (Ponometia cuta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094?
Smith listed a wingspan of 19 mm. Poole lists a forewing length of one individual 8 mm.
How do you identify Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094?
Smith original description as Acontia cuta is available online to read or PDF.
Where is Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094 found?
Range: Poole lists the range to inlude western Texas to southern California and most of northern Mexico. Moth Photographers Group map Holotype from Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, Arizona.
What does Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094 includes Poole reports host and immature stages are unknown. ( 4 ).
When is Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094 active?
Ponometia cuta - Hodges#9094: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April to September. ( 5 ).