Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234
Acronicta beameri
This record describes Acronicta beameri (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray with heavy black anal dash which almost connects to heavy black basal dash; AM and PM lines thick, scalloped, white, edged with black on both sides; reniform and orbicular spots black in center, surrounded by white, with thin black perimeter line; several oblique black markings along costa; black subapical dash runs from PM line to outer margin; hindwing white with conspicuous black scaling along distal half of veins, mostly in upper half of wing; collar black; top of thorax gray.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acronictinae
- Genus
- Acronicta (Dagger Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas to Arizona. Type location: Palmerlee, Cochise County, Arizona.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Dr. Raymond Hill Beamer (1889-1957).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta beameri. 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 Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234
What is Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234?
Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234 (Acronicta beameri) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234?
Adult: forewing light gray with heavy black anal dash which almost connects to heavy black basal dash; AM and PM lines thick, scalloped, white, edged with black on both sides; reniform and orbicular spots black in center, surrounded by white, with thin black perimeter line; several oblique black markings along costa; black subapical dash runs from PM line to outer margin; hindwing white with conspicuous black scaling along distal half of veins, mostly in upper half of wing; collar black; top of thorax gray.
Where is Acronicta beameri - Hodges#9234 found?
Range: Texas to Arizona. Type location: Palmerlee, Cochise County, Arizona.