Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470
Acerra normalis
This record describes Acerra normalis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with large dark brown V-shaped patch in median area surrounding pale yellowish area along costa; dark triangular spot in pale yellowish area does not touch costa; PM line blackish, almost straight in lower half of wing, then curving smoothly toward base before reaching costa; subterminal line faint or absent; outer margin not scalloped; hindwing light brownish-gray with pale brown or yellowish fringe described by Grote in 1874; the type specimens were collected in California
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Orthosiini
- Genus
- Acerra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in early spring
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of oceanspray ( Holodiscus ), bitterbrush ( Purshia ), willow ( Salix ), and mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acerra normalis. 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 Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470
What is Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470?
Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470 (Acerra normalis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470?
wingspan about 40 mm, based on photo by Jeff Miller at USGS
How do you identify Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with large dark brown V-shaped patch in median area surrounding pale yellowish area along costa; dark triangular spot in pale yellowish area does not touch costa; PM line blackish, almost straight in lower half of wing, then curving smoothly toward base before reaching costa; subterminal line faint or absent; outer margin not scalloped; hindwing light brownish-gray with pale brown or yellowish fringe
Where is Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470 found?
Range: British Columbia to California
What does Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470 eat?
The diet of the Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470 includes larvae feed on leaves of oceanspray ( Holodiscus ), bitterbrush ( Purshia ), willow ( Salix ), and mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus ).
When is Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470 active?
Acerra normalis - Hodges#10470: seasonal activity - adults fly in early spring.