Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088
Ponometia virginalis
This record describes Ponometia virginalis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished by the white basal area of the forewing which is tinted yellow. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
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
Eastern Texas to Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah, south to Arizona. ( 4 ) Poole states the southern Florida population may not be Ponometia virginalis . ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to September. (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plant is unknown. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ponometia virginalis. 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 virginalis - Hodges#9088 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088
What is Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088?
Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088 (Ponometia virginalis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088?
Forewing length averages 10 mm.
How do you identify Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088?
Distinguished by the white basal area of the forewing which is tinted yellow. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
Where is Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088 found?
Range: Eastern Texas to Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah, south to Arizona. ( 4 ) Poole states the southern Florida population may not be Ponometia virginalis . ( 4 )
What does Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088 eat?
The diet of the Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088 includes Larval host plant is unknown. ( 4 ).
When is Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088 active?
Ponometia virginalis - Hodges#9088: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to September. (MPG).