Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1
Virbia fergusoni
This record describes Virbia fergusoni (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male FW umber with dark fuscous on the crossveins of the discal spot forming a small transverse band. HW peach red, the subterminal region raw umber. Female FW cinnamon, sometimes with a salmon costal margin. HW peach red, the terminal margins fringed with tawny scales. See referenced PDF for detailed description
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Virbia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Zaspel studies specimens from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Listed on the South Carolina checklist. Holotype male from 7.5 mile N.E. Fargo, Clinch County, Georgia (13-vii-1981).
Seasonal Activity
Zaspel reported the flight period of mid-March through mid-July, with only one Georgia specimen from September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: D.C. Ferguson reared on Taraxacum (dandelion) but the natural host is not certain.
Life History
Zaspel reported the species likely has multiple broods.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Zaspel named the species in honour of Dr. Douglas Ferguson . ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Virbia fergusoni. 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 Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1
What is Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1?
Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1 (Virbia fergusoni) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1?
Zaspel listed the forewing length. ♂ 11 mm. (N=10) [10 ♂ specimens studied]. ♀ 12 mm. (N=10)
How do you identify Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1?
Male FW umber with dark fuscous on the crossveins of the discal spot forming a small transverse band. HW peach red, the subterminal region raw umber. Female FW cinnamon, sometimes with a salmon costal margin. HW peach red, the terminal margins fringed with tawny scales. See referenced PDF for detailed description
Where is Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1 found?
Range: Zaspel studies specimens from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Listed on the South Carolina checklist. Holotype male from 7.5 mile N.E. Fargo, Clinch County, Georgia (13-vii-1981).
What does Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1 eat?
The diet of the Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1 includes D.C. Ferguson reared on Taraxacum (dandelion) but the natural host is not certain..
When is Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1 active?
Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1: seasonal activity - Zaspel reported the flight period of mid-March through mid-July, with only one Georgia specimen from September..
What is the life cycle of a Ferguson's Virbia - Hodges#8118.1?
Zaspel reported the species likely has multiple broods.