Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750
Ptichodis herbarum
This record describes Ptichodis herbarum (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This is a sexually dimorphic species. Females are plainly marked with relatively straight am. and pm. lines. Males have a black spot near the wing base and the am. and pm. lines have a strong curve or abrupt bend and there is a lot of dark shading next to the lines. Both sexes have the large, ghosty-pale reniform spot – unlike any other Ptichodis Don Lafontaine Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Euclidiini
- Genus
- Ptichodis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner (2003) listed the range as New York and Illinois to Florida and Texas. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults usually fly from March to October. Heppner (2003) reports February to June, September, December for Florida. See records on the Moth Photographers Group range map linked above.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) listed the larval host as Lespedeza sp. (Leguminosae). ( 9 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ptichodis herbarum. 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 Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750
What is Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750?
Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750 (Ptichodis herbarum) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750?
Wingspan about 30 mm.
How do you identify Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750?
This is a sexually dimorphic species. Females are plainly marked with relatively straight am. and pm. lines. Males have a black spot near the wing base and the am. and pm. lines have a strong curve or abrupt bend and there is a lot of dark shading next to the lines. Both sexes have the large, ghosty-pale reniform spot – unlike any other Ptichodis Don Lafontaine Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) listed the range as New York and Illinois to Florida and Texas. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750 eat?
The diet of the Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750 includes Heppner (2003) listed the larval host as Lespedeza sp. (Leguminosae). ( 9 ).
When is Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750 active?
Common Ptichodis - Hodges#8750: seasonal activity - Adults usually fly from March to October. Heppner (2003) reports February to June, September, December for Florida. See records on the Moth Photographers Group range map linked above..