Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670
Spodoptera latifascia
This record describes Spodoptera latifascia (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Prodeniini
- Genus
- Spodoptera (Armyworm Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US to C. Amer. / W. Indies - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
present year round in FL - MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of low plants and garden crops such as tomato and eggplant
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spodoptera latifascia. 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 Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670
How big is Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670?
WS ≈ 42 mm (based on specimen by Jim Vargo at MPG)
Where is Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670 found?
Range: se US to C. Amer. / W. Indies - Map (MPG)
What does Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670 eat?
The diet of the Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670 includes larvae feed on leaves of low plants and garden crops such as tomato and eggplant.
When is Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670 active?
Velvet Armyworm Moth - Hodges#9670: seasonal activity - present year round in FL - MPG.