Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125
Spragueia guttata
This record describes Spragueia guttata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white to pale yellowish, crossed by thick curving lines as though drawn with a black felt marker, and giving the effect of having large hollow spots; dark orange patches in basal, median, and subterminal areas; fringe orange and black; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acontiinae
- Tribe
- Acontiini
- Genus
- Spragueia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida to Texas Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May - September, based on BugGuide posting Larvae present from May onward.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Parthenium ( feverfew ) is mentioned in document by David Wagner et al listed below
Life History
Multiple generations per year.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: guttata : from the Latin "guttatus", from "gutta" (a drop); [ guttate means spotted, as with drops] - presumably refers to the markings on the forewing, and is the presumed origin of the common name
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spragueia guttata. 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 Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125
What is Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125?
Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125 (Spragueia guttata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125?
Adult: forewing white to pale yellowish, crossed by thick curving lines as though drawn with a black felt marker, and giving the effect of having large hollow spots; dark orange patches in basal, median, and subterminal areas; fringe orange and black; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe
Where is Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125 found?
Range: Florida to Texas Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125 eat?
The diet of the Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125 includes Parthenium ( feverfew ) is mentioned in document by David Wagner et al listed below.
When is Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125 active?
Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May - September, based on BugGuide posting Larvae present from May onward..
What is the life cycle of a Spotted Spragueia - Hodges#9125?
Multiple generations per year.