Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153
Sympistis toddi
This record describes Sympistis toddi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Blanchard original description available in PDF or read online. Determined Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey)
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
Habitat
Desert
Geographic Range
Western Texas, New Mexico. Holotype from Texas, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan desert near Dugout Wells, @ 3,000', 28 September 1965.
Seasonal Activity
May; August through September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sympistis toddi. 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 Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153
What is Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153?
Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153 (Sympistis toddi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153?
Blanchard reported the wingspan 21-22 mm.
How do you identify Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153?
Blanchard original description available in PDF or read online. Determined Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey)
Where is Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Desert |
| Range | Western Texas, New Mexico. Holotype from Texas, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan desert near Dugout Wells, @ 3,000', 28 September 1965. |
When is Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153 active?
Sympistis toddi - Hodges#10153: seasonal activity - May; August through September..