Common Mellana - Hodges#4068
Quasimellana eulogius
This record describes Quasimellana eulogius (species). Recorded family: Hesperiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Key character is a band of faint spots forming a crescent under the hindwing, similar to the backwards 3" on the Southern Broken-Dash ( Wallengrenia otho )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Hesperiidae (Skippers)
- Subfamily
- Hesperiinae
- Tribe
- Hesperiini
- Genus
- Quasimellana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Forest gaps and openings
Geographic Range
s. TX to Brazil - Map (MPG, BOA)
Seasonal Activity
Year-round, though in Texas is least common in late winter/early spring
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults feed on nectar. Larval host plants unknown.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Quasimellana eulogius (Plötz, 1882)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Quasimellana eulogius. 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 Common Mellana - Hodges#4068 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Joshua Stuart Rose , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Mellana - Hodges#4068
What is Common Mellana - Hodges#4068?
Common Mellana - Hodges#4068 (Quasimellana eulogius) is a species in the family Hesperiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Common Mellana - Hodges#4068?
Key character is a band of faint spots forming a crescent under the hindwing, similar to the backwards 3" on the Southern Broken-Dash ( Wallengrenia otho )
Where is Common Mellana - Hodges#4068 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest gaps and openings |
| Range | s. TX to Brazil - Map (MPG, BOA) |
What does Common Mellana - Hodges#4068 eat?
The diet of the Common Mellana - Hodges#4068 includes Adults feed on nectar. Larval host plants unknown..
When is Common Mellana - Hodges#4068 active?
Common Mellana - Hodges#4068: seasonal activity - Year-round, though in Texas is least common in late winter/early spring.