Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001
Praeschausia zapata
This record describes Praeschausia zapata (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Mexican species not often encountered in the United States. Bruce Walsh collected two dozen from Harshaw, Portal, Pena Blanca, and Brown Canyon in southern Arizona during the banner year of 2011. ( 4 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heterocampinae
- Genus
- Praeschausia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Mexico and rarely southern Arizona and west Texas. ( 3 ) Type locality: Presidio River, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: This Mexican species possibly named in honor of Emiliano Zapata , killed in 1919 during the Mexican Revolution.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Praeschausia zapata. 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 Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001
What is Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001?
Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001 (Praeschausia zapata) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001?
Schaus (1921) reported a wingspan of 20 mm.
Where is Praeschausia zapata - Hodges#8001 found?
Range: Mexico and rarely southern Arizona and west Texas. ( 3 ) Type locality: Presidio River, Sinaloa, Mexico.