Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027
Abagrotis orbis
This record describes Abagrotis orbis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
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
Western North America to the Great Plains.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly late summer from August to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are pest of apple, plum and grapes.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Abagrotis orbis. 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 orbis - Hodges#11027 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027
What is Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027?
Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027 (Abagrotis orbis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027?
Wingspan is 35–40 mm.
How do you identify Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027 found?
Range: Western North America to the Great Plains.
What does Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027 eat?
The diet of the Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027 includes Larvae are pest of apple, plum and grapes..
When is Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027 active?
Abagrotis orbis - Hodges#11027: seasonal activity - Adults fly late summer from August to September..