Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640
Xanthopastis regnatrix
This record describes Xanthopastis regnatrix (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: hairy black body and pink forewing with black markings (forewing may be mostly white or mostly yellowish - see images under Internet References below); subterminal line composed of several yellow spots; reniform spot outlined in yellow; hindwing uniformly dark gray Larva: vertical black and white stripes common in Florida; rare elsewhere in United States.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Glottulini
- Genus
- Xanthopastis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US: TX-FL-SC-KY - Map (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on spider lily (Liliaceae) and amaryllis and narcissus (Amaryllidaceae); also reported on figs ( Ficus spp.) in continental US; larvae have been reared on "iceberg" lettuce
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Xanthopastis timais was recognized as the senior synonym of regatrix by Poole (1989) in Lepidopterum Catalogus - Noctuidae, and more recently by Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010) in their checklist of Noctuoidea of North America. However a published revision to the checklist in 2011 (citation below) updated the status of Xanthopastis in North America, removing the name X. timais for our the North American species, indicating there are at least 6 species in the genus. X. timais is restricted to South America.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xanthopastis regnatrix. 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 Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Chris Grinter , roar , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640
What is Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640?
Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640 (Xanthopastis regnatrix) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640?
Wingspan 39-45 mm
How do you identify Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640?
Adult: hairy black body and pink forewing with black markings (forewing may be mostly white or mostly yellowish - see images under Internet References below); subterminal line composed of several yellow spots; reniform spot outlined in yellow; hindwing uniformly dark gray Larva: vertical black and white stripes
Where is Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640 found?
Range: se US: TX-FL-SC-KY - Map (MPG)
What does Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640 eat?
The diet of the Spanish Moth - Hodges#10640 includes larvae feed on spider lily (Liliaceae) and amaryllis and narcissus (Amaryllidaceae); also reported on figs ( Ficus spp.) in continental US; larvae have been reared on iceberg lettuce.