Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592
Properigea tapeta
This record describes Properigea tapeta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Hadena tapeta is in PDF format or view online in the print references .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Properigea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida to Texas and Arizona. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Holotype ♂ labeled "Cocoanut Grove, Florida (E.A. Schwarz, collector) #4822 in United States National Museum (USNM). ( 7 )
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April to September. ( 8 ) Heppner (2003) reported February to December in Florida. ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been reared on Polypodium polypodioides (L.) Andrews & Windham (resurrection fern). ( 7 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Properigea tapeta. 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 Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592
What is Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592?
Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592 (Properigea tapeta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592?
Wingspan averages 25-28 mm. Smith listed a wingspan of 25 mm.
How do you identify Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592?
The original description as Hadena tapeta is in PDF format or view online in the print references .
Where is Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592 found?
Range: Florida to Texas and Arizona. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Holotype ♂ labeled Cocoanut Grove, Florida (E.A. Schwarz, collector) #4822 in United States National Museum (USNM). ( 7 )
What does Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592 eat?
The diet of the Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592 includes Larvae have been reared on Polypodium polypodioides (L.) Andrews & Windham (resurrection fern). ( 7 ).
When is Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592 active?
Properigea tapeta - Hodges#9592: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April to September. ( 8 ) Heppner (2003) reported February to December in Florida. ( 6 ).