Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400
Redectis pygmaea
This record describes Redectis pygmaea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with slightly lobed outer margin; AM line scalloped, and PM line toothed, but both lines may be faint or indistinct; darker shading just inside PM line at costa may partly obscure reniform spot, which consists of a cluster of 3 small ovals that are pale yellowish or orangish but not white; small pale patch just beyond PM line at costa
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Herminiinae
- Genus
- Redectis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New York to Florida, west to Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Redectis pygmaea. 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 Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400
What is Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400?
Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400 (Redectis pygmaea) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400?
wingspan about 14 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with slightly lobed outer margin; AM line scalloped, and PM line toothed, but both lines may be faint or indistinct; darker shading just inside PM line at costa may partly obscure reniform spot, which consists of a cluster of 3 small ovals that are pale yellowish or orangish but not white; small pale patch just beyond PM line at costa
Where is Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400 found?
Range: New York to Florida, west to Texas
When is Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400 active?
Pygmy Redectis - Hodges#8400: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September.