Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769
Spiloloma lunilinea
This record describes Spiloloma lunilinea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - Gray with distinctive black marks on forewings, black collar Crumb describes the larva.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Catocalini
- Genus
- Spiloloma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Deciduous forests
Geographic Range
TX-FL-MD-IA - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Apr-Sep (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Honeylocust - Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spiloloma lunilinea. 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 Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769
What is Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769?
Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769 (Spiloloma lunilinea) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769?
Wingspan 44-54 mm. Larvae mature to 35 mm.
How do you identify Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769?
Adult - Gray with distinctive black marks on forewings, black collar Crumb describes the larva.
Where is Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous forests |
| Range | TX-FL-MD-IA - Map (MPG) |
What does Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769 eat?
The diet of the Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769 includes Larval host is Honeylocust - Gleditsia triacanthos (Fabaceae).
When is Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769 active?
Moon-lined Moth - Hodges#8769: seasonal activity - mostly: Apr-Sep (MPG).