Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7
Uranophora leucotelus
This record describes Uranophora leucotelus (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | First United States (Texas) record! Determined by Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) Charles Bordelon (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) Photographed by Rick Nirschl on January 6, 2013 in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA at the National Butterfly Garden. Adult: 410. Probocis is well developed. Black forewing with some metallic blue at base. |
| Forewing | Forewing with prominent hyaline streaks and white patch at apex. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing has some greyish shading along costa. |
| Head | Head and thorax with brilliant metallic blue. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen has brilliant blue at base and on the sides with a greenish dorsal line. First five ventral abdominal segements of ♂ have white patches; ♀ lack the patches. More information coming soon! |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Uranophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southmost TX to Brazil 410 (New US Record)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host unknown. Adults take nectar.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "The correct genus usage is Uranophora ; this dates back to Hampson’s (1898) catalogue, and I’m not aware of any recent revisionary work on either genus. Basically, Hampson included the type-species of both genera under Napata , but Uranophora is actually the older name, so he should have listed everything as Uranophora – an oversight on Hampson’s part that has been repeated in some historical literature." - Chris Schmidt (pers. comm. - 5/52017)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Uranophora leucotelus. 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 Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7
What is Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7?
Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7 (Uranophora leucotelus) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7?
Wingspan 26 mm. 410.
How do you identify Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | First United States (Texas) record! Determined by Ed Knudson (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) Charles Bordelon (Texas Lepidoptera Survey) Photographed by Rick Nirschl on January 6, 2013 in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA at the National Butterfly Garden. Adult: 410. Probocis is well developed. Black forewing with some metallic blue at base. |
| Forewing | Forewing with prominent hyaline streaks and white patch at apex. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing has some greyish shading along costa. |
| Head | Head and thorax with brilliant metallic blue. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen has brilliant blue at base and on the sides with a greenish dorsal line. First five ventral abdominal segements of ♂ have white patches; ♀ lack the patches. |
Where is Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7 found?
Range: southmost TX to Brazil 410 (New US Record)
What does Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7 eat?
The diet of the Uranophora leucotelus - Hodges#8271.7 includes Larval host unknown. Adults take nectar..