LepidopteraLasiocampidae – Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths

Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672

Tolype mayelisae

This record describes Tolype mayelisae (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672 - Tolype mayelisae
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris

The only Tolype north of Mexico with black discal spot.

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

southern Texas

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tolype mayelisae. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672

What is Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672?

Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672 (Tolype mayelisae) is a species in the family Lasiocampidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How do you identify Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672?

The only Tolype north of Mexico with black discal spot.

Where is Tolype mayelisae - Hodges#7672 found?

Range: southern Texas

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.