Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244
Pygoctenucha terminalis
This record describes Pygoctenucha terminalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
P. terminalis is likely congeneric with Euchaetes ( 4 ) and both genera need revision. ( 5 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Pygoctenucha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ-NM-CO - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly late-May to early-August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are milkweeds ( Asclepias ). Found on butterfly milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa , Asclepiadaceae) in southern Arizona.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pygoctenucha terminalis. 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 Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244
What is Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244?
Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244 (Pygoctenucha terminalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244?
Forewing length 16-19 mm. ,
Where is Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244 found?
Range: AZ-NM-CO - Map (MPG)
What does Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244 eat?
The diet of the Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244 includes Larval hosts are milkweeds ( Asclepias ). Found on butterfly milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa , Asclepiadaceae) in southern Arizona..
When is Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244 active?
Pygoctenucha terminalis - Hodges#8244: seasonal activity - Adults fly late-May to early-August..