Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120
Virbia lamae
This record describes Virbia lamae (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
For a full description see Zaspel et al.
Identification notes
For a full description see Zaspel et al.
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
Habitat
Occurs only in peat bogs .
Geographic Range
This species has collected in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, Wisconsin, and Michigan as well as Alberta .
Seasonal Activity
This diurnal species can only be collected with nets in bogs during July and early August. Apparently is not attracted to lights .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Plantago (Handfield, 1999) and Taraxacum .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Virbia lamae. 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 Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120
What is Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120?
Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120 (Virbia lamae) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120?
Forewing length: 10 mm .
How do you identify Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120?
For a full description see Zaspel et al.
Where is Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Occurs only in peat bogs . |
| Range | This species has collected in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, Wisconsin, and Michigan as well as Alberta . |
What does Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120 eat?
The diet of the Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120 includes Plantago (Handfield, 1999) and Taraxacum ..
When is Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120 active?
Virbia lamae - Hodges#8120: seasonal activity - This diurnal species can only be collected with nets in bogs during July and early August. Apparently is not attracted to lights ..