Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1
Pryeria sinica
This record describes Pryeria sinica (species). Recorded family: Zygaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
first found in MD and VA in 2001; it is spreading - Introduced from Asia
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Zygaenoidea
- Family
- Zygaenidae (Leaf Skeletonizer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Procridinae
- Genus
- Pryeria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
MD & VA (BG data), native to China and Korea
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Euonymus and Celastrus species (Celastraceae)
Life History
larvae feed gregariously
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pryeria sinica Moore, 1877
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pryeria sinica. 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 Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Brad Barnd; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Chris Grinter
Frequently Asked Questions About Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1
What is Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1?
Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1 (Pryeria sinica) is a species in the family Zygaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1 found?
Range: MD & VA (BG data), native to China and Korea
What does Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1 eat?
The diet of the Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1 includes Larvae feed on Euonymus and Celastrus species (Celastraceae).
What is the life cycle of a Euonymus Leaf Notcher - Hodges#4639.1?
larvae feed gregariously