Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817
Thurberiphaga diffusa
This record describes Thurberiphaga diffusa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults attracted to light from 9pm to 12pm (Vorhies, 1926).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acontiinae
- Tribe
- Chamaecleini
- Genus
- Thurberiphaga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
At higher elevations it can be found in canyons and at lower eleveations it is almost always in sandy washes, always in close association with its only known host plant (Vorhies, 1926).
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona. Known only from the counties of Santa Cruz, Cochise, Pima (Nearctica.com) and Maricopa (USDA, 1971).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly late July to early September (Nearctica.com). Emergence of adults very closely associated with the late budding host plant.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae bore into buds and bolls of Thurber's cotton , also known as tree cotton, ( Gossypium thurberi ) (Vorhies, 1926; Crumb, 1956; USDA, 1971). Vorhies found that late instar larvae will take cultivated cotton but that this is unlikely to occur in the wild.
Life History
Conspicuous, yet small, white, truncate-conical shaped eggs are laid singly on leaf tips or tips of flower bracts usually in mid-August. Larvae hatch in six days and bore into bolls and buds, of which it will consume several during its lifetime. Pupation occurs underground in a dense coccon (Vorhies, 1926).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thurberiphaga diffusa. 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 Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by cotinis , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817
What is Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817?
Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817 (Thurberiphaga diffusa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 13-15 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009). |
| Wingspan | Wingspan 25-35 mm (Barnes, 1904; Dyar, 1919). Larvae mature to 23-26 mm (Vorhies, 1926). Pupae 10 mm in a dense 15 mm silk cocoon (Vorhies, 1926). |
Where is Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | At higher elevations it can be found in canyons and at lower eleveations it is almost always in sandy washes, always in close association with its only known host plant (Vorhies, 1926). |
| Range | Southern Arizona. Known only from the counties of Santa Cruz, Cochise, Pima (Nearctica.com) and Maricopa (USDA, 1971). |
What does Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817 eat?
The diet of the Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817 includes Larvae bore into buds and bolls of Thurber's cotton , also known as tree cotton, ( Gossypium thurberi ) (Vorhies, 1926; Crumb, 1956; USDA, 1971). Vorhies found that late instar larvae will take cultivated cotton but that this is unlikely to occur in the wild..
When is Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817 active?
Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817: seasonal activity - Adults fly late July to early September (Nearctica.com). Emergence of adults very closely associated with the late budding host plant..
What is the life cycle of a Thurberia Bollworm - Hodges#9817?
Conspicuous, yet small, white, truncate-conical shaped eggs are laid singly on leaf tips or tips of flower bracts usually in mid-August. Larvae hatch in six days and bore into bolls and buds, of which it will consume several during its lifetime. Pupation occurs underground in a dense coccon (Vorhies, 1926).