Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679
Tolype dayi
This record describes Tolype dayi (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Lasiocampoidea
- Family
- Lasiocampidae (Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Poecilocampinae
- Genus
- Tolype
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from June to September in California.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, Englemann spruce, Lodgepole pine, White spruce and Western hemlock.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet dayi in honor of Mr. G.O. Day, who collected some of the first specimens, for his work in western Lepidoptera.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tolype dayi. 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 Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679
How big is Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679?
Wingspan 32 mm (male), 39 mm (female)
Where is Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679 found?
Range: British Columbia to California.
What does Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679 eat?
The diet of the Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679 includes Larval hosts include Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, Englemann spruce, Lodgepole pine, White spruce and Western hemlock..
When is Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679 active?
Tolype dayi - Hodges#7679: seasonal activity - Adults fly from June to September in California..