Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255
Pygarctia abdominalis
This record describes Pygarctia abdominalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing is slate grey with pale yellow along the costa to almost the apex and also along inner margin. The thorax has two orange-yellow strips. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen is orange-yellow above with a row of black dots along the length. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Pygarctia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner included the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts; New Jersey to Florida to Texas. , Included in the Oklahoma checklist.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from April to August. ( 5 ) Heppner (2003) reported February, April to June, August to September in Florida. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the host plant as unknown. ( 3 ) spurges (Euphorbiacae) and dogbanes (Apocynacae) ( 6 ) [Randy Hardy]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pygarctia abdominalis. 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 Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255
What is Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255?
Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255 (Pygarctia abdominalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255?
Wingspan: ♂ about 35 mm. ♀ about 45 mm.
How do you identify Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing is slate grey with pale yellow along the costa to almost the apex and also along inner margin. The thorax has two orange-yellow strips. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen is orange-yellow above with a row of black dots along the length. |
Where is Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255 found?
Range: Heppner included the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts; New Jersey to Florida to Texas. , Included in the Oklahoma checklist.
What does Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255 eat?
The diet of the Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255 includes Heppner (2003) reported the host plant as unknown. ( 3 ) spurges (Euphorbiacae) and dogbanes (Apocynacae) ( 6 ) [Randy Hardy].
When is Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255 active?
Yellow-edged Pygarctia - Hodges#8255: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from April to August. ( 5 ) Heppner (2003) reported February, April to June, August to September in Florida. ( 3 ).