Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022
Sthenopis pretiosus
This record describes Sthenopis pretiosus (species). Recorded family: Hepialidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing yellowish-brown with 3 small gold spots in subterminal area, a larger single spot in the medial area, and 3 more small gold spots forming an antemedial (AM) line near the base; PM line represented by an indistinct whitish, pinkish, or silvery band overlaid with small angular patches; top of head and thorax dark gray to blackish hindwing light yellowish-orange and unmarked
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Hepialoidea
- Family
- Hepialidae (Ghost Moths)
- Genus
- Sthenopis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
northeastern United States and southeastern Canada
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sthenopis pretiosus. 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 Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , anitagould , Ron M. , Ryan St Laurent , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022
What is Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022?
Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022 (Sthenopis pretiosus) is a species in the family Hepialidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022?
wingspan 60-70 mm
How do you identify Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022?
forewing yellowish-brown with 3 small gold spots in subterminal area, a larger single spot in the medial area, and 3 more small gold spots forming an antemedial (AM) line near the base; PM line represented by an indistinct whitish, pinkish, or silvery band overlaid with small angular patches; top of head and thorax dark gray to blackish hindwing light yellowish-orange and unmarked
Where is Gold-spotted Ghost Moth - Hodges#0022 found?
Range: northeastern United States and southeastern Canada