White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401
Redectis vitrea
This record describes Redectis vitrea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale brownish-gray with deeply-lobed outer margin; reniform spot represented by cluster of three small white ovals - a diagnostic feature; hindwing pale gray with black-dashed terminal line and slightly irregular outer margin.
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
southern Ontario and New York to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan Type Locality: Buffalo, NY.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae apparently feed on crabgrass ( Digitaria spp.)
Life History
Larva; pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Redectis vitrea. 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 White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401
What is White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401?
White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401 (Redectis vitrea) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401?
wingspan about 18 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401?
Adult: forewing pale brownish-gray with deeply-lobed outer margin; reniform spot represented by cluster of three small white ovals - a diagnostic feature; hindwing pale gray with black-dashed terminal line and slightly irregular outer margin.
Where is White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401 found?
Range: southern Ontario and New York to Florida, west to Texas, north to Michigan Type Locality: Buffalo, NY.
What does White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401 eat?
The diet of the White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401 includes larvae apparently feed on crabgrass ( Digitaria spp.).
When is White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401 active?
White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to October.
What is the life cycle of a White-spotted Redectis - Hodges#8401?
Larva; pupa; adult