Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1
Rivula pusilla
This record describes Rivula pusilla (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 (Rivula pusilla) is a species in the family Erebidae, belonging to the order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). It is classified within the subfamily Rivulinae, superfamily Noctuoidea. This species belongs to the genus Rivula. As a member of class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda, it is part of the kingdom Animalia. Size: Sullivan listed the forewing length 8.2-10.2 mm.. Active during Heppner reported April to December..
Identification notes
Sullivan in PDF.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Rivulinae
- Genus
- Rivula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner (2003) reported the range to include Florida; Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Central America. ( 3 ) Wagner et al. (2011) reported the species reaches the Gainesville area in Florida. ( 4 ) Syntypes: two males from Puerto Rico in MNHU, Berlin. ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) reported April to December. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner reported grasses including Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze (St. Augustine grass). Sullivan reported grasses and sedges.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rivula pusilla. 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 Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1
What is Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1?
Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 (Rivula pusilla) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1?
Sullivan listed the forewing length 8.2-10.2 mm.
How do you identify Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1?
Sullivan in PDF.
Where is Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) reported the range to include Florida; Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Central America. ( 3 ) Wagner et al. (2011) reported the species reaches the Gainesville area in Florida. ( 4 ) Syntypes: two males from Puerto Rico in MNHU, Berlin. ( 5 )
What does Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 eat?
The diet of the Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 includes Heppner reported grasses including Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze (St. Augustine grass). Sullivan reported grasses and sedges..
When is Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1 active?
Rivula pusilla - Hodges#8404.1: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reported April to December. ( 3 ).