Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092
Ponometia huita
This record describes Ponometia huita (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adapted from nearctica.com : The basal half of the forewing is pure white with an angular distal margin. There is a small olive-brown spot on the costa and a large, triangular, olive-brown patch arising from the inner margin. The latter olive-brown patch includes two light gray irregular triangles outlined with a bit of white. The reniform is gray with a white, curved line inside. The fringe is white with indistinct gray patches. FW length 10 mm.
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
Central and southwestern Texas west to southern Arizona, south-central Mexico.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia huita. 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 huita - Hodges#9092 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092
What is Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092?
Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092 (Ponometia huita) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092?
Smith (1903) listed the wingspan 15-20. mm
How do you identify Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092?
Adapted from nearctica.com : The basal half of the forewing is pure white with an angular distal margin. There is a small olive-brown spot on the costa and a large, triangular, olive-brown patch arising from the inner margin. The latter olive-brown patch includes two light gray irregular triangles outlined with a bit of white. The reniform is gray with a white, curved line inside. The fringe is white with indistinct gray patches. FW length 10 mm.
Where is Ponometia huita - Hodges#9092 found?
Range: Central and southwestern Texas west to southern Arizona, south-central Mexico.