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Species Neophisma tropicalis - Hodges#8722

Representative Images

Ophisma tropicalis - Hodges #8722 - Neophisma tropicalis Ophisma tropicalis - Neophisma tropicalis Texas SE Gulf Coast - Neophisma tropicalis - female Texas SE Gulf Coast - Neophisma tropicalis - female Ophisma tropicalis - Neophisma tropicalis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Erebinae
Tribe Poaphilini
Genus Neophisma
Species tropicalis (Neophisma tropicalis - Hodges#8722)

Hodges Number

8722

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Neophisma tropicalis (Guenée, 1852)
Ophisma tropicalis Guenée, 1852
Ophisma ardosiata Draudt, 1940
Ophisma bilineata Draudt, 1940
Ophisma confundens Walker, 1858
crocimacula Guenée, 1852
Ophisma detrahens Walker, 1858
Ophisma dimidiata Draudt, 1940
Ophisma fugiens Walker, 1858
Ophisma luteiplaga Walker, 1858
morbillosa Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874
Ophisma stigmatifera Walker, 1858

Explanation of Names

Neophisma tropicalis (Guenée, 1852), n. comb. (Barbut 2022) (formerly in the genus Ophisma) is the type species of Neophisma Barbut (2022). This treatment was overlooked in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) (2023).

Numbers

Neophisma tropicalis is the only member of the genus listed for America , north of Mexico. (1)

Identification

The species is extremely variable in color and pattern. The white dot at the base of the forewing is distinctive. (2)

Range

North Carolina to Florida and Texas. (3)
Range extends throughout Mexico and the Antilles, south to Argentina. (2)

Season

Adults are most common from May to November. (3)
Heppner (2003) reported Ophisma tropicalis as a stray in Florida. (4)

Food

Larvae reported on Cupania americana L. (wild ackee).
Heppner (2003) reported the host plant as unknown. (4)

Print References

Barbut, J., 2022. Neophisma, nouveau genre néotropical, avec la description de deux nouvelles espèces (Erebidae Erebinae). Antenor, 8(2): 167-172, 10 figs. (journal table of contents only)
Becker, V.O. & S.E. Miller, 2002. The large moths of Guana Island, British Virgin Islands: A survey of efficient colonizers. (Sphingidae, Notodontidae, Noctuidae, Arctiidae, Geometridae, Hyblaeidae, Cossidae), 29. fig. 61. (2)
Guenée, 1852. Sp. gen. des Lep., 6: 238.

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group (3)
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (5)

Works Cited

1.Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico.
Donald J. Lafontaine, B. Christian Schmidt. 2010. ZooKeys 40: 1–239 .
2.The large moths of Guana Island, British Virgin. Islands: A survey of efficient colonizers. (Sphingidae, Notodontidae, ...
Vitor O. Becker, Scott E. Miller. 2002. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 56(1): 9-44 .
3.North American Moth Photographers Group
4.Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas: Lepidoptera of Florida
J.B. Heppner. 2003. Florida Department of Agriculture 17(1): 1-670.
5.BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman on 13 July, 2013 - 12:31pm
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Last updated 9 May, 2025 - 2:26pm

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