Sympistis heterogena - Hodges#10105
Sympistis heterogena
This record describes Sympistis heterogena (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
- Oncocnemidinae
- Genus
- Sympistis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western Texas. Holotype ♂, Texas, Brewster County, Big Bend National Park, Green Gulch, 27 August 1965, deposited in the National Museum of Natural History (No. 68148).
Seasonal Activity
Blanchard recorded adults from March to June, and August through September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sympistis heterogena. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sympistis heterogena - Hodges#10105
How big is Sympistis heterogena - Hodges#10105?
Blanchard listed the length of forewing. ♂ 15-16 mm. ♀ 15-17 mm.
Where is Sympistis heterogena - Hodges#10105 found?
Range: Western Texas. Holotype ♂, Texas, Brewster County, Big Bend National Park, Green Gulch, 27 August 1965, deposited in the National Museum of Natural History (No. 68148).
When is Sympistis heterogena - Hodges#10105 active?
Sympistis heterogena - Hodges#10105: seasonal activity - Blanchard recorded adults from March to June, and August through September..