Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115
Ponometia exigua
This record describes Ponometia exigua (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Sexually dimorphic: The Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of the French Antilles - species page
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
mostly along Gulf coastal plain: TX-FL-GA / Mex. to C. Amer. / W. Indies - Map ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from April through October; year round in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host - American Burnweed ( Erechtites hieraciifolius , Asteraceae) - USDA plant information and Waltheria ovata (Malvaceae)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia exigua. 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 exigua - Hodges#9115 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115
What is Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115?
Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115 (Ponometia exigua) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115?
Forewing length about 11 mm.
How do you identify Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115?
Sexually dimorphic: The Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of the French Antilles - species page
Where is Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115 found?
Range: mostly along Gulf coastal plain: TX-FL-GA / Mex. to C. Amer. / W. Indies - Map ( 3 )
What does Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115 includes Larval host - American Burnweed ( Erechtites hieraciifolius , Asteraceae) - USDA plant information and Waltheria ovata (Malvaceae).
When is Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115 active?
Ponometia exigua - Hodges#9115: seasonal activity - Most records are from April through October; year round in Florida..