Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040
Abagrotis reedi
This record describes Abagrotis reedi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Buckett (1969) described the adult - commonly dark brown but sometimes light brown to almost black, males tending to be darker and females redder. Lines usually distinct but not always so. Dark reniform spot always present. Orbicular spot outlined in ochreous, filled with brown. Terminal line a series of black lanceolate dashes. Fringe ochreous tipped in dark brown. Deep smoky fuscous hindwing, fringe conspicuously tricolor, from ochreous to brown and tipped with white. ( 3 ) Crumb (1956) described the larva - usually brown, sometimes gray or blackish. Head light brown with black lines. ( 4 ) Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 5 )
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
Ranges over much of western North America, from the coastal ranges of central California east into the Rockies, from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta south to Arizona, New Mexico and undoubtedly Mexico. ( 3 ) Holotype male: Tecate Peak, San Diego County, California, 21 July 1963 (B.C. Reed).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Known larval hosts include willow ( Salix , Salicaceae), cottonwood ( Populus , Salicaceae), oceanspray ( Holodiscus , Rosaceae) and boxelder ( Acer negundo , Aceraceae). ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of B.C. Reed, who collected the holotype specimen.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Abagrotis reedi. 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 reedi - Hodges#11040 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040
What is Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040?
Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040 (Abagrotis reedi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040?
Wingspan about 28-36 mm. , Forewing length: ♂ 16 mm, ♀ 14 mm. Larva to about 30 mm.
How do you identify Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040?
Buckett (1969) described the adult - commonly dark brown but sometimes light brown to almost black, males tending to be darker and females redder. Lines usually distinct but not always so. Dark reniform spot always present. Orbicular spot outlined in ochreous, filled with brown. Terminal line a series of black lanceolate dashes. Fringe ochreous tipped in dark brown. Deep smoky fuscous hindwing, fringe conspicuously tricolor, from ochreous to brown and tipped with white. ( 3 ) Crumb (1956) described the larva - usually brown, sometimes gray or blackish. Head light brown with black lines. ( 4 ) Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 5 )
Where is Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | Ranges over much of western North America, from the coastal ranges of central California east into the Rockies, from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta south to Arizona, New Mexico and undoubtedly Mexico. ( 3 ) Holotype |
| Male | Tecate Peak, San Diego County, California, 21 July 1963 (B.C. Reed). |
What does Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040 eat?
The diet of the Abagrotis reedi - Hodges#11040 includes Known larval hosts include willow ( Salix , Salicaceae), cottonwood ( Populus , Salicaceae), oceanspray ( Holodiscus , Rosaceae) and boxelder ( Acer negundo , Aceraceae). ( 4 ).