Protogygia album - Hodges#10692
Protogygia album
This record describes Protogygia album (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
White forewing with scattered fuscous or dark scales, with the dark scales sometimes concentrated to form dark spot at the location of the reniform. There is also a slightly yellowing patch on forehead between the antennae.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Protogygia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"This species is found mostly in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of the Southwest. The Pacific Northwest population is on dry sagebrush steppe at low elevations." (Pacific Northwest Moths)
Geographic Range
Mohave and Sonoran Deserts and southern Great Basin
Seasonal Activity
March to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "This species has been observed feeding on blazing-star ( Mentzelia laevicaulis ) in the Loasaceae." (Pacific Northwest Moths)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Protogygia album. 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 Protogygia album - Hodges#10692 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Protogygia album - Hodges#10692
What is Protogygia album - Hodges#10692?
Protogygia album - Hodges#10692 (Protogygia album) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Protogygia album - Hodges#10692?
FWL = 14.0-16.0 mm
How do you identify Protogygia album - Hodges#10692?
White forewing with scattered fuscous or dark scales, with the dark scales sometimes concentrated to form dark spot at the location of the reniform. There is also a slightly yellowing patch on forehead between the antennae.
Where is Protogygia album - Hodges#10692 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species is found mostly in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of the Southwest. The Pacific Northwest population is on dry sagebrush steppe at low elevations. (Pacific Northwest Moths) |
| Range | Mohave and Sonoran Deserts and southern Great Basin |
What does Protogygia album - Hodges#10692 eat?
The diet of the Protogygia album - Hodges#10692 includes This species has been observed feeding on blazing-star ( Mentzelia laevicaulis ) in the Loasaceae. (Pacific Northwest Moths).
When is Protogygia album - Hodges#10692 active?
Protogygia album - Hodges#10692: seasonal activity - March to October.