Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027
Truncaptera inopinata
This record describes Truncaptera inopinata (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Dicranurinae
- Genus
- Truncaptera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
USA: Pima and Santa Cruz Cos., AZ. - Miller et al. (2021) Type locality: Colima, Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly August to October. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Thurber's cotton ( Gossypium thurberi ) in the mallow family (Malvaceae). ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Truncaptera inopinata (Draudt, 1932), n. comb. (n. gen.) in Becker (2014:22) , is recognized by Becker as the true identity of the species formerly treated as 8027 Lirimiris truncata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1856) in the 1983 Hodges Checklist. Truncata now considered extralimital north of Mexico .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Truncaptera inopinata. 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 Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Nick Block , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027
How big is Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027?
Forewing length 26-35 mm. ( 4 )
Where is Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027 found?
Range: USA: Pima and Santa Cruz Cos., AZ. - Miller et al. (2021) Type locality: Colima, Mexico.
What does Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027 eat?
The diet of the Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027 includes Larvae feed on Thurber's cotton ( Gossypium thurberi ) in the mallow family (Malvaceae). ( 4 ).
When is Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027 active?
Truncaptera inopinata - Hodges#8027: seasonal activity - Adults fly August to October. ( 4 ).