Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924
Actebia fennica
This record describes Actebia fennica (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A medium-size (3.9-4.2 cm wingspan) dark brown moth with relatively narrow forewings with doubled black basal, antemedian and postmedian lines. The subterminal line is a marked by a row of lighter scales. The orbicular and reniform spots are prominent, the former oval and filled with light brown scales and the later kidney-shaped and partly filled with rusty-orange. The claviform is elongate and filled with black, and there are two short black streaks inside the upper subterminal line. Males differ from females in having a broad pale rusty-orange border to the posterior edge of the forewings. The hindwings are dirty white, shading to darker brown toward the margin. The narrow forewings with rusty-orange reniform and, in males, the paler lower margin, will usually identify this moth. The larvae are described in Lafontaine, 2004. This description from E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Actebia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open edges; urban gardens woods and woodland and parks
Geographic Range
Holarctic; from Newfoundland to western Europe, mainly in the boreal region, south to New England, southern Montana and northern Oregon. It occurs throughout most of the wooded areas of Alberta, including the wooded valleys in the grasslands region (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been collected in Alberta from early mid July through mid September
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Actebia fennica. 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 Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ian Maton; Additional contributions by Fyn Kynd , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924
What is Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924?
Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924 (Actebia fennica) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924?
A medium-size (3.9-4.2 cm wingspan) dark brown moth with relatively narrow forewings with doubled black basal, antemedian and postmedian lines. The subterminal line is a marked by a row of lighter scales. The orbicular and reniform spots are prominent, the former oval and filled with light brown scales and the later kidney-shaped and partly filled with rusty-orange. The claviform is elongate and filled with black, and there are two short black streaks inside the upper subterminal line. Males differ from females in having a broad pale rusty-orange border to the posterior edge of the forewings. The hindwings are dirty white, shading to darker brown toward the margin. The narrow forewings with rusty-orange reniform and, in males, the paler lower margin, will usually identify this moth. The larvae are described in Lafontaine, 2004. This description from E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Where is Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open edges; urban gardens woods and woodland and parks |
| Range | Holarctic; from Newfoundland to western Europe, mainly in the boreal region, south to New England, southern Montana and northern Oregon. It occurs throughout most of the wooded areas of Alberta, including the wooded valleys in the grasslands region (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum) |
When is Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924 active?
Black Army Cutworm - Hodges#10924: seasonal activity - Adults have been collected in Alberta from early mid July through mid September.