Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1
Pygarctia pterygostigma
This record describes Pygarctia pterygostigma (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | The gray head has narrow pink band in the nape. |
| Forewing | Forewing gray with a yellowish-white mark. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen dorsal is crimson with a row of spots. |
| Legs | Legs are gray; foreleg coxae has pink inner side. [adapted from the Dyar (1909) description] |
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
Southern Texas and New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from June to September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pygarctia pterygostigma. 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 Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1
What is Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1?
Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1 (Pygarctia pterygostigma) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1?
Wingspan about 28 mm.
How do you identify Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | The gray head has narrow pink band in the nape. |
| Forewing | Forewing gray with a yellowish-white mark. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen dorsal is crimson with a row of spots. |
| Legs | Legs are gray; foreleg coxae has pink inner side. [adapted from the Dyar (1909) description] |
Where is Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1 found?
Range: Southern Texas and New Mexico.
When is Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1 active?
Pygarctia pterygostigma - Hodges#8250.1: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from June to September..