Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716
Stibaera thyatiroides
This record describes Stibaera thyatiroides (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing ground color white with brown dappling in median area, and yellowish-brown shading beyond PM line; orbicular spot brown, round; reniform spot blackish, U-shaped; blackish patches along costa in basal, median, and subterminal areas; PM line curved, slightly irregular; terminal line composed of several large dark spots; hindwing light brown mixed with pale scales; diffuse dark discal spot; terminal line dark, thin; fringe pale; head brown; collar blackish; top of thorax pale with blackish line down center.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Condicinae
- Tribe
- Condicini
- Genus
- Stibaera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona. Type location: Hereford, AZ.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stibaera thyatiroides. 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 Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Ethan Kistler , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716
What is Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716?
Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716 (Stibaera thyatiroides) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716?
Wingspan about 37-43 mm. ,
How do you identify Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716?
Adult: forewing ground color white with brown dappling in median area, and yellowish-brown shading beyond PM line; orbicular spot brown, round; reniform spot blackish, U-shaped; blackish patches along costa in basal, median, and subterminal areas; PM line curved, slightly irregular; terminal line composed of several large dark spots; hindwing light brown mixed with pale scales; diffuse dark discal spot; terminal line dark, thin; fringe pale; head brown; collar blackish; top of thorax pale with blackish line down center.
Where is Whaleback Moth - Hodges#9716 found?
Range: Arizona. Type location: Hereford, AZ.