Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161
Acontia cretata
This record describes Acontia cretata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mostly white basally, and dark green to blackish beyond PM line; amount of pearl-gray shading in basal half varies from almost none to almost complete; reniform spot either white or dark, bordered by pale yellowish-green shading on one or both sides; fringe scales usually white along lower half of outer margin, and dark along upper half; hindwing white, shading to brownish-gray at outer margin; fringe white. The larva are a host of the parasitoid braconid wasp Bracon mellitor . ( 6 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acontiinae
- Tribe
- Acontiini
- Genus
- Acontia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widespread throughout southern and central United States, as far north as extreme southern Saskatchewan, Canada and south into Mexico. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from April to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Poole states the host is unknown. ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: cretata : from the Latin "creta" (chalk); "cretated" means rubbed with chalk - refers to the whitish color on the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Chalky Bird Dropping Moth.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acontia cretata. 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 Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161
What is Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161?
Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161 (Acontia cretata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161?
Wingspan 22-27 mm.
How do you identify Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161?
Adult: forewing mostly white basally, and dark green to blackish beyond PM line; amount of pearl-gray shading in basal half varies from almost none to almost complete; reniform spot either white or dark, bordered by pale yellowish-green shading on one or both sides; fringe scales usually white along lower half of outer margin, and dark along upper half; hindwing white, shading to brownish-gray at outer margin; fringe white.
Where is Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161 found?
Range: Widespread throughout southern and central United States, as far north as extreme southern Saskatchewan, Canada and south into Mexico. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
What does Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161 eat?
The diet of the Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161 includes Poole states the host is unknown. ( 5 ).
When is Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161 active?
Chalky Bird Dropping Moth - Hodges#9161: seasonal activity - Adults fly from April to September..