Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785
Stiria rugifrons
This record describes Stiria rugifrons (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Stiria rugifrons and intermixta are extremely close morphologically and superficially. Stiria intermixta may be just the southwestern US Mexican race of rugifrons . The ranges of variability in both the male and female genitalia overlap and cannot be used to separate the two species consistently. ( 5 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Stiriinae
- Tribe
- Stiriini
- Genus
- Stiria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, Wyoming, Colorado and west Texas. Southern Ohio and Virginia south to northern Florida. Indiana and Kansas. Range does not overlap with southwestern S. intermixta .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Sunflowers including small woodland sunflower ( Helianthus microcephalus ) and Porter's sunflower ( Helianthus porter ). Likely others.
Life History
Larva; larva; larva; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet rugifrons is Latin meaning "creased face (frons)." Describing Stiria Grote notes that the genus has a remarkable clypeus that "exceeds the eyes" with a "heart-shaped, naked depression." ( 73 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stiria rugifrons. 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 Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785
What is Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785?
Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785 (Stiria rugifrons) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785?
Wingspan 32-42 mm Larva less than 35 mm
Where is Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785 found?
Range: Southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, Wyoming, Colorado and west Texas. Southern Ohio and Virginia south to northern Florida. Indiana and Kansas. Range does not overlap with southwestern S. intermixta .
What does Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785 eat?
The diet of the Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785 includes Sunflowers including small woodland sunflower ( Helianthus microcephalus ) and Porter's sunflower ( Helianthus porter ). Likely others..
What is the life cycle of a Yellow Sunflower Moth - Hodges#9785?
Larva; larva; larva; adult