Tropical-moth

Guides

Elaphria nucicolora
Sugarcane Midget
Elaphria nucicolora, commonly known as the Sugarcane Midget, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of approximately 21 mm. The species has a broad geographic range spanning the southeastern United States, Caribbean islands, tropical South America, and Hawaii. Adults are active from late spring through autumn in temperate regions, with year-round activity in tropical and subtropical areas. The larval stage feeds on a variety of herbaceous plants including sugarcane, watermelon, and several weedy species.
Noctuidae agricultural-pest introduced-species Hawaii sugarcane blacklight-attraction tropical-moth
Eulepidotis rectimargo
Eulepidotis rectimargo is a moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Achille Guenée in 1852. The species occurs in tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere, with records from Mexico, Central America, and South America. It has been documented as far north as Texas, representing a northward range extension recorded in 2004. The species belongs to the genus Eulepidotis, a group of moths within the subfamily Calpinae.
tropical-moth Nearctic-record Western-Hemisphere
Gonodonta nutrix
Citrus fruitpiercer
Gonodonta nutrix, commonly known as the citrus fruitpiercer, is a moth in the family Erebidae. It was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1780. The species is distributed across the Caribbean and from North to South America, with larvae that feed on Annona species.
fruitpiercer Annona tropical-moth Caribbean-fauna agricultural-pest
Herminocala stigmaphiles
Herminocala stigmaphiles is a species of moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Herminiinae. It was originally described by Harrison Gray Dyar in 1914 under the basionym Rhosologia stigmaphiles. The genus Herminocala is a small group within the diverse litter moth assemblage. Available information on this species is extremely limited, with no published studies on its biology, ecology, or distribution beyond original taxonomic description.
data-deficient historical-description-only tropical-moth taxonomic-uncertainty
Hodebertia
Hodebertia is a monotypic genus of crambid moths erected by Leraut in 2003. Its sole species, Hodebertia testalis, is a tropical micro-moth with occasional vagrant records in Europe. The genus is notable for its distinctive wing pattern and larval association with milkweed relatives and hibiscus.
vagrant monotypic-genus tropical-moth milkweed-feeder micro-moth
Penthesilea difficilis
Amazon Queen Moth
Penthesilea difficilis, commonly known as the Amazon Queen Moth, is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae. The species was described by Felder and Rogenhofer in 1874. It belongs to the subfamily Chrysauginae, a group of pyralid moths that are primarily tropical in distribution. The genus Penthesilea is relatively small and poorly studied compared to many other pyralid genera.
Pyralidae Chrysauginae tropical-moth Amazon-region snout-moth Felder-&-Rogenhofer-1874 Lepidoptera poorly-known-species
Plusiodonta nr-compressipalpis
Plusiodonta nr-compressipalpis is a noctuid moth provisionally identified as near-compressipalpis, indicating morphological similarity to Plusiodonta compressipalpis without confirmed species status. The genus Plusiodonta comprises primarily tropical and subtropical moths, many with distinctive wing patterns and reduced mouthparts. This provisional designation suggests the specimen requires further taxonomic verification, possibly through genitalic dissection or DNA barcoding. Members of this genus are generally nocturnal and attracted to light.
provisional-identification nr-species requires-taxonomic-verification noctuidae erebidae tropical-moth genus-plusiodonta morphological-similarity undetermined-status light-attracted
Pseudosphinx tetrio
tetrio sphinx, giant gray sphinx, frangipani hornworm, plumeria caterpillar, Rasta caterpillar
Pseudosphinx tetrio is a sphinx moth (Sphingidae) native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Its larvae are specialized herbivores of Apocynaceae plants, particularly Allamanda cathartica and Plumeria species. The species exhibits a distinctive chemical ecology strategy: larvae selectively excrete plant-derived compounds rather than sequestering or metabolizing them, enabling them to feed on toxic host plants rich in latex. The caterpillars display aposematic coloration—velvety black with yellow rings and orange-red head and legs—advertising their unpalatability to predators.
chemical-ecology aposematism host-specialization Apocynaceae selective-excretion antimicrobial gregarious-behavior tropical-moth
Rothschildia lebeau
Lebeau's Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau is a giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, distributed from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are short-lived and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species exhibits a life history tradeoff between larval survival and adult body size based on host plant quality, with larger males showing higher mating success.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae host-plant-tradeoff sexual-selection tropical-dry-forest Barro-Colorado-Island pheromone-communication non-feeding-adult complete-metamorphosis cultural-significance indigenous-use cocoon-harvesting mating-success body-size-dimorphism seasonal-variation microbial-associations protistan-diversity caterpillar-microbiome herbivore forest-ecology Neotropical Mexico Central-America South-America Panama Costa-Rica Brazil Texas Rio-Grande-Valley exhibit-species butterfly-house education conservation light-pollution suburban-sprawl introduced-parasites rearing cottage-industry vestigial-mouthparts fat-reserves short-lived-adult female-sedentary-behavior male-dispersal oviposition-site-selection fitness-consequences life-history-evolution quantitative-genetic-variation wet-season-phenology developmental-plasticity survival-size-tradeoff herbivore-performance plant-animal-interactions microbial-observatory molecular-characterization eukaryotic-microbiome saturniid-caterpillar Lepidoptera Bombycoidea Rothschildia Guérin-Méneville-1868 Attacus-lebeau Lebeau's-Silk-Moth Forbes-Moth Rothschildia-lebeau-forbesi windows transparent-wing-patches scale-less-wing-areas antennae sexual-dimorphism mate-choice sperm-competition reproductive-success larval-performance caterpillar-growth pupal-development adult-emergence longevity predation bat-predation nocturnal crepuscular moth silkmoth silkworm giant-moth forest-moth tropical-moth Neotropical-fauna biodiversity insect-collection museum-specimen Bohart-Museum American-Museum-of-Natural-History entomology lepidopterology systematics taxonomy natural-history field-study observational-study experimental-ecology evolutionary-ecology behavioral-ecology population-biology community-ecology ecosystem-function food-web trophic-interaction herbivory folivory tree-insect-interaction phenology climate-effects seasonality environmental-variation habitat-heterogeneity host-race ecotype local-adaptation phenotypic-plasticity genetic-variation quantitative-trait trade-off allocation reproductive-allocation parental-investment offspring-size offspring-number optimal-clutch-size mate-competition intrasexual-selection intersexual-selection ornament signal chemical-communication olfaction sensory-ecology foraging movement-ecology dispersal migration home-range activity-pattern diel-cycle circadian-rhythm photoperiod temperature humidity rainfall precipitation dry-season wet-season tropical-seasonality El-Niño climate-change global-warming habitat-disturbance forest-fragmentation deforestation agricultural-expansion urbanization conservation-biology threatened-species common-species population-decline extinction-risk protected-area national-park biological-reserve research-station Smithsonian-Tropical-Research-Institute Barro-Colorado-Island-Nature-Monument Gatun-Lake Panama-Canal Isthmus-of-Panama Central-American-isthmus land-bridge biogeography vicariance dispersal-limitation species-range range-expansion range-contraction range-shift poleward-shift elevational-shift altitudinal-gradient latitudinal-gradient thermal-tolerance desiccation-resistance water-balance physiological-ecology metabolic-rate energetics nutritional-ecology stoichiometry nitrogen phosphorus carbon plant-secondary-metabolite tannin alkaloid terpenoid defense induced-defense constitutive-defense herbivore-offense counter-adaptation coevolution evolutionary-arms-race phylogenetic-constraint phylogenetic-signal comparative-method phylogenetic-comparative-analysis trait-evolution reproductive-strategy iteroparity semelparity big-bang-reproduction suicidal-reproduction capital-breeder income-breeder resource-acquisition resource-allocation storage fat-body lipid glycogen protein amino-acid vitamin micronutrient digestion gut-microbiome gut-flora intestinal-microorganism symbiosis mutualism commensalism parasitism pathogen disease immunity immune-response defense-mechanism resistance tolerance recovery survival mortality fecundity fertility sterility hybridization introgression gene-flow population-structure genetic-differentiation FST isolation-by-distance isolation-by-environment landscape-genetics landscape-ecology spatial-ecology geographic-information-system remote-sensing satellite-imagery habitat-suitability species-distribution-model ecological-niche-model MaxEnt BIOMOD ensemble-forecast climate-envelope niche-conservatism niche-evolution realized-niche fundamental-niche biotic-interaction competition facilitation apparent-competition indirect-effect trophic-cascade keystone-species ecosystem-engineer foundation-species dominant-species rare-species functional-diversity functional-trait trait-based-ecology community-assembly filtering sorting neutral-theory niche-theory unified-theory metacommunity metapopulation source-sink-dynamics rescue-effect mass-effect patch-dynamics landscape-mosaic connectivity corridor stepping-stone matrix-quality edge-effect interior-forest core-area buffer-zone fragment-size isolation perimeter-area-ratio shape-index fractal-dimension habitat-amount threshold-effect extinction-debt relaxation-time lag-effect time-delay historical-legacy founder-effect bottleneck genetic-drift inbreeding inbreeding-depression outbreeding outbreeding-depression heterosis hybrid-vigor genetic-rescue assisted-migration managed-relocation translocation reintroduction restoration-ecology habitat-restoration ecological-restoration rewilding de-extinction synthetic-biology conservation-genetics conservation-genomics population-genomics landscape-genomics environmental-DNA eDNA metabarcoding metagenomics transcriptomics proteomics metabolomics phenomics imaging computer-vision machine-learning artificial-intelligence deep-learning neural-network convolutional-neural-network recurrent-neural-network generative-adversarial-network transfer-learning data-augmentation training-set validation-set test-set cross-validation bootstrap jackknife permutation randomization Monte-Carlo Markov-chain Bayesian-inference posterior-probability prior-probability likelihood model-selection information-criterion AIC BIC DIC WAIC LOO model-averaging multimodel-inference structural-equation-model path-analysis causal-inference directed-acyclic-graph potential-outcomes propensity-score instrumental-variable regression-discontinuity difference-in-differences synthetic-control panel-data longitudinal-data time-series cross-sectional-data spatial-data spatiotemporal-data point-pattern areal-data geostatistics kriging variogram spatial-autocorrelation Moran's-I Geary's-c Getis-Ord-Gi LISA hot-spot cold-spot cluster-detection scan-statistic network-analysis graph-theory small-world scale-free-network centrality betweenness closeness eigenvector PageRank community-detection modularity clustering-coefficient path-length diameter radius percolation robustness resilience vulnerability adaptive-capacity transformability social-ecological-system complex-adaptive-system emergent-property self-organization nonlinearity threshold tipping-point hysteresis alternative-stable-state regime-shift critical-transition early-warning-signal resilience-indicator panarchy adaptive-cycle exploitation release reorganization fast-variable slow-variable controlling-variable driver pressure state impact response DPSIR ecosystem-service provisioning-service regulating-service cultural-service supporting-service natural-capital green-infrastructure nature-based-solution ecosystem-based-adaptation ecosystem-based-mitigation payment-for-ecosystem-service REDD+biodiversity-offset habitat-banking mitigation-hierarchy avoidance minimization restoration compensation no-net-loss net-gain biodiversity-metric condition-metric landscape-metric connectivity-metric genetic-metric functional-metric irreplaceability threat opportunity conservation-planning systematic-conservation-planning Marxan Zonation prioritization efficiency effectiveness equity stakeholder governance institution policy law regulation incentive market-based-instrument command-and-control voluntary-agreement certification eco-label sustainable-use sustainable-management adaptive-management learning-by-doing monitoring evaluation indicator target goal vision scenario projection forecast uncertainty risk precautionary-principle safe-minimum-standard environmental-impact-assessment strategic-environmental-assessment cumulative-impact-assessment social-impact-assessment health-impact-assessment life-cycle-assessment carbon-footprint water-footprint ecological-footprint material-flow-analysis substance-flow-analysis input-output-analysis environmentally-extended-input-output-analysis multi-regional-input-output-analysis computable-general-equilibrium integrated-assessment-model earth-system-model global-circulation-model regional-climate-model downscaling bias-correction ensemble-simulation perturbed-physics emulator surrogate-model reduced-complexity-model simple-climate-model integrated-earth-system-model socioeconomic-scenario shared-socioeconomic-pathway representative-concentration-pathway climate-scenario emission-scenario mitigation-scenario adaptation-scenario impact-scenario vulnerability-scenario risk-scenario resilience-scenario transformation-scenario sustainability-scenario narrative storyline pathway trajectory transition transformation decarbonization electrification renewable-energy energy-efficiency circular-economy green-economy blue-economy bioeconomy nature-economy natural-capital-accounting ecosystem-accounting environmental-accounting green-accounting inclusive-wealth genuine-progress-indicator happy-planet-index human-development-index sustainable-development-goals Agenda-2030 Paris-Agreement Convention-on-Biological-Diversity Aichi-targets post-2020-global-biodiversity-framework Kunming-Montreal-Global-Biodiversity-Framework 30-by-30 half-earth nature-needs-half rewilding-Europe rewilding-Britain rewilding-North-America Pleistocene-rewilding trophic-rewilding ecological-replacement taxon-substitution revival-biology molecular-de-extinction proxy-species gene-drive CRISPR genome-editing genetic-modification biotechnology nanotechnology information-technology global-positioning-system unmanned-aerial-vehicle drone satellite sensor camera-trap acoustic-monitoring citizen-science community-science participatory-monitoring traditional-ecological-knowledge indigenous-knowledge local-knowledge farmer-knowledge fishers-knowledge co-production-of-knowledge transdisciplinarity interdisciplinarity multidisciplinarity post-normal-science mode-2-science triple-helix quadruple-helix quintuple-helix open-science open-data open-access open-source FAIR-data findable accessible interoperable reusable data-management-plan metadata provenance quality-assurance quality-control validation verification uncertainty-quantification error-propagation sensitivity-analysis scenario-analysis Monte-Carlo-simulation Bayesian-belief-network influence-diagram decision-tree multi-criteria-decision-analysis cost-benefit-analysis cost-effectiveness-analysis multi-attribute-utility-theory game-theory mechanism-design incentive-compatibility revelation-principle social-choice-theory voting-theory fair-division institutional-design policy-design governance-design architecture polycentric-governance adaptive-governance collaborative-governance network-governance hierarchical-governance market-governance community-governance hybrid-governance meta-governance steering rowing regulatory-state enabling-state partner-state entrepreneurial-state innovation-state strategic-state developmental-state welfare-state green-state sustainable-state resilient-state smart-state digital-state platform-state algorithmic-state surveillance-state authoritarian-state democratic-state deliberative-democracy participatory-democracy direct-democracy representative-democracy liberal-democracy social-democracy green-democracy ecological-democracy biocracy ecofascism deep-ecology social-ecology ecofeminism environmental-justice climate-justice intergenerational-justice intragenerational-justice spatial-justice territorial-justice recognition-justice procedural-justice distributive-justice restorative-justice transformative-justice reparative-justice transitional-justice ecological-justice species-justice multispecies-justice more-than-human-justice anthropocene capitalocene plantationocene chthulucene symbiocene good-anthropocene bad-anthropocene great-acceleration great-divergence great-convergence great-transformation great-decoupling great-disruption great-moderation great-recession great-depression great-war great-famine great-migration great-replacement great-reset great-refusal great-enrichment great-leveling great-compression
Rusicada
Rusicada is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae. The genus was established by Walker in 1858 and has been subject to taxonomic revision, with species previously placed in the genus Anomis now recognized as belonging to Rusicada. Members of this genus are known as fruit-piercing moths, with adults capable of piercing fruit skins to feed on juices. The genus contains multiple species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions.
fruit-piercing-moth agricultural-pest nocturnal Erebidae tropical-moth
Scardiinae
Scardiinae is a subfamily of moths within the family Tineidae. Members are characterized by larval morphological features and the absence of a gnathos in the male genitalia. The subfamily was formerly split to include Tinissinae, now synonymized with Scardiinae. The group contains approximately 20 genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions.
fungivore tineid-moth tropical-moth light-attracted