Spotted Sulphur
Acontia trabealis
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
61
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmelia_trabealis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Noctuidae
Genus
Acontia
Spotted Sulphur belongs to the family Noctuidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Spotted Sulphur faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its range. Climate change is altering the distribution and abundance of its host plants, while pesticide use in agricultural areas directly impacts both adult moths and their larval food sources.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Open grasslands, prairie margins, agricultural edges, and disturbed areas where native leguminous host plants occur. The species typically inhabits areas with scattered shrubs and herbaceous vegetation at low to moderate elevations.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Spotted Sulphur faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its range. Climate change is altering the distribution and abundance of its host plants, while pesticide use in agricultural areas directly impacts both adult moths and their larval food sources.
Climate change affecting host plant availability
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Pesticide use in agricultural landscapes
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Fragmentation of remaining natural habitats
Found in 61 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Spotted Sulphur (Acontia trabealis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/spotted-sulphur