Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091
Ponometia dorneri
This record describes Ponometia dorneri (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adapted from nearctica.com : The basal half of the forewing is pure white. A dark brown, roughly s-shaped mark occupies the outer half of the wing. This zig-zag brown patch leaves a large white triangle extending basally from the outer FW margin. The fringe is pure white. The FW has a rectangular spot about in the middle of the costal margin which does not quite reach the reniform spot. The hindwing is white, but heavily tinged with brown along its inner margin. Wing length from base to apex in one selected individual 9 mm. The original description as Tarache dorneri Barnes and McDunnough, is available online in the print references below. ( 4 )
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
New Mexico, southern and western Texas. ( 3 ) ( 5 ) Mexico. ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults appear to be most common from April to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown. ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia dorneri. 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 dorneri - Hodges#9091 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091
What is Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091?
Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091 (Ponometia dorneri) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091?
Forewing length 9-10 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091?
Adapted from nearctica.com : The basal half of the forewing is pure white. A dark brown, roughly s-shaped mark occupies the outer half of the wing. This zig-zag brown patch leaves a large white triangle extending basally from the outer FW margin. The fringe is pure white. The FW has a rectangular spot about in the middle of the costal margin which does not quite reach the reniform spot. The hindwing is white, but heavily tinged with brown along its inner margin. Wing length from base to apex in one selected individual 9 mm. The original description as Tarache dorneri Barnes and McDunnough, is available online in the print references below. ( 4 )
Where is Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091 found?
Range: New Mexico, southern and western Texas. ( 3 ) ( 5 ) Mexico. ( 3 )
What does Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091 includes Unknown. ( 3 ).
When is Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091 active?
Ponometia dorneri - Hodges#9091: seasonal activity - Adults appear to be most common from April to August..