Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253
Pygarctia roseicapitis
This record describes Pygarctia roseicapitis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Avoid attack of Pentatomidae and Vespidae predators and Diptera parasitoids by dropping from the plants to the ground.
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 Arizona to Texas, south into Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly May through September. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on various spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Found and reared on hyssopleaf sandmat ( Chamaesyce hyssopifolia , Euphorbiaceae) in southern Arizona.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Roseicapitis is Latin meaning "rose-colored head."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pygarctia roseicapitis. 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 roseicapitis - Hodges#8253 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Ron M. , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253
What is Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253?
Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253 (Pygarctia roseicapitis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253?
Forewing length 14-17 mm. Larva to 30 mm.
Where is Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253 found?
Range: Southern Arizona to Texas, south into Mexico.
What does Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253 eat?
The diet of the Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253 includes Larvae feed on various spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Found and reared on hyssopleaf sandmat ( Chamaesyce hyssopifolia , Euphorbiaceae) in southern Arizona..
When is Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253 active?
Pygarctia roseicapitis - Hodges#8253: seasonal activity - Adults fly May through September. ( 4 ).