Owl Moth - Hodges#8647
Thysania zenobia
This record describes Thysania zenobia (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males are more boldly marked. Dorsal Ventral
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Thermesiini
- Genus
- Thysania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e. N. Amer. to S. Amer. / W. Indies Interactive Map of Owl Moth Records - Mike Quinn, 2012
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Jul-Nov. With but few exceptions, all U.S. and Canada records follow the June onset of the rainy season in Mexico . - Mike Quinn, 2012
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Janzen & Hallwachs (1999) and Robinson et al. (2002) reported the larvae on Senna and Cassia species in Central and South America. ( 4 )
Life History
Thysania zenobia has not been recorded breeding in the US.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Thysania - Greek for 'a fringe'
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Thysania zenobia. 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 Owl Moth - Hodges#8647 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Owl Moth - Hodges#8647
What is Owl Moth - Hodges#8647?
Owl Moth - Hodges#8647 (Thysania zenobia) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Owl Moth - Hodges#8647?
Wingspan 10-15 cm ( 3 )
How do you identify Owl Moth - Hodges#8647?
Males are more boldly marked. Dorsal Ventral
Where is Owl Moth - Hodges#8647 found?
Range: e. N. Amer. to S. Amer. / W. Indies Interactive Map of Owl Moth Records - Mike Quinn, 2012
What does Owl Moth - Hodges#8647 eat?
The diet of the Owl Moth - Hodges#8647 includes Janzen & Hallwachs (1999) and Robinson et al. (2002) reported the larvae on Senna and Cassia species in Central and South America. ( 4 ).
When is Owl Moth - Hodges#8647 active?
Owl Moth - Hodges#8647: seasonal activity - mostly: Jul-Nov. With but few exceptions, all U.S. and Canada records follow the June onset of the rainy season in Mexico . - Mike Quinn, 2012.
What is the life cycle of a Owl Moth - Hodges#8647?
Thysania zenobia has not been recorded breeding in the US.