Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038
Abagrotis nanalis
This record describes Abagrotis nanalis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults have very distinctive forewing pattern: streaked dark brown and buff; thorax with a prominent pale buff center, flanked by dark gray. Larva are black with bold white middorsal and subdorsal lines, with black spiracles. The head is pale with black stripes and reddish blotches. Grote (1881) original description as Agrotis nanalis is available online in the print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Abagrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern British Columbia to southwestern Manitoba and south to eastern central California to New Mexico. , , ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly late July to early September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Abagrotis nanalis. 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 Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038
What is Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038?
Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038 (Abagrotis nanalis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038?
Forewing length 12-14 mm.
How do you identify Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038?
Adults have very distinctive forewing pattern: streaked dark brown and buff; thorax with a prominent pale buff center, flanked by dark gray. Larva are black with bold white middorsal and subdorsal lines, with black spiracles. The head is pale with black stripes and reddish blotches. Grote (1881) original description as Agrotis nanalis is available online in the print references.
Where is Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038 found?
Range: Southern British Columbia to southwestern Manitoba and south to eastern central California to New Mexico. , , ,
What does Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038 eat?
The diet of the Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038 includes Larval host is Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush)..
When is Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038 active?
Abagrotis nanalis - Hodges#11038: seasonal activity - Adults fly late July to early September..