Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101
Ponometia tortricina
This record describes Ponometia tortricina (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Lighter specimens of P. tortricina can be readily identified by the even color and black orbicular spot. Dark specimens are closely similar to Ponometia fumata and cannot be reliably sorted by superficial appearance ( 4 ) . Specimens from the northern prairie provinces of Canada usually have a distinct orange tint to part of the maculation ( 6 ) .
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
"Dry wooded areas, grasslands and badlands" ( 5 ) .
Geographic Range
"Widespread in the Great Plains, occurring from the Mexican border in Texas and New Mexico north to southern Manitoba and central Alberta" ( 4 ) . MPG shows scattered records across the east, but these are unverified and probably based on misidentifications. Apparently absent from California, southern Nevada, and most of Arizona ( 4 ) .
Seasonal Activity
"It has been collected from mid-May to early September, although most records are from June and July" ( 4 ) .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) , but has been associated with sunflowers ( Helianthus spp.) in North Dakota and Texas ( 5 ) ( 7 ) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia tortricina. 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 tortricina - Hodges#9101 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101
What is Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101?
Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101 (Ponometia tortricina) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101?
Forewing length: 9-10 mm ( 4 ) , wingspan: 18-21 mm ( 5 ) .
How do you identify Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101?
Lighter specimens of P. tortricina can be readily identified by the even color and black orbicular spot. Dark specimens are closely similar to Ponometia fumata and cannot be reliably sorted by superficial appearance ( 4 ) .
Where is Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry wooded areas, grasslands and badlands ( 5 ) . |
| Range | Widespread in the Great Plains, occurring from the Mexican border in Texas and New Mexico north to southern Manitoba and central Alberta ( 4 ) . MPG shows scattered records across the east, but these are unverified and probably based on misidentifications. Apparently absent from California, southern Nevada, and most of Arizona ( 4 ) . |
What does Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101 includes Unknown ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) , but has been associated with sunflowers ( Helianthus spp.) in North Dakota and Texas ( 5 ) ( 7 ) ..
When is Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101 active?
Ponometia tortricina - Hodges#9101: seasonal activity - It has been collected from mid-May to early September, although most records are from June and July ( 4 ) ..