Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753
Ptichodis ovalis
This record describes Ptichodis ovalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote (1883) and Hampson (1913) descriptions available in print references. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 4 )
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
Arizona to western Texas.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is May to August. ( 5 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ptichodis ovalis. 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 Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753
What is Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753?
Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753 (Ptichodis ovalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753?
Wingspan averages 28-33 mm. Grote (1883) listed a wingspan of 33 mm.
How do you identify Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753?
Grote (1883) and Hampson (1913) descriptions available in print references. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 4 )
Where is Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753 found?
Range: Arizona to western Texas.
When is Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753 active?
Ptichodis ovalis - Hodges#8753: seasonal activity - The main flight period is May to August. ( 5 ).