Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989
Adelphagrotis stellaris
This record describes Adelphagrotis stellaris (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Fresh adults have a cream to orange reniform spot, a prothoracic collar that is lighter in color than the darker gray or brown of the thorax and the forewings. From British Columbia to Northern California the forewings are usually more mottled in color and the transverse lines are usually darker and more conspicuous. The median area is usually darker than the basal and subterminal areas. Populations in central California are usually paler, with a more washed out forewing color. ,
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Adelphagrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Usually found in moist coastal forests.
Geographic Range
This species has been found along the West Coast from southern British Columbia east to the Cascades in the north and southward to the central California Coast Range.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been collected in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae appear to be generalist feeders and have been reported to feed on various flowering trees and shrubs, such as Huckleberry Vaccinium spp , snowberry Symphoricarpus sp , salmonberry Rubus spectabilis , and Indian-plum Osmoronia(Oemlaria) cerasiformis .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Adelphagrotis stellaris. 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 Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989
What is Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989?
Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989 (Adelphagrotis stellaris) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989?
Wingspan approximately 36 mm.
How do you identify Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989?
Fresh adults have a cream to orange reniform spot, a prothoracic collar that is lighter in color than the darker gray or brown of the thorax and the forewings. From British Columbia to Northern California the forewings are usually more mottled in color and the transverse lines are usually darker and more conspicuous. The median area is usually darker than the basal and subterminal areas. Populations in central California are usually paler, with a more washed out forewing color. ,
Where is Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Usually found in moist coastal forests. |
| Range | This species has been found along the West Coast from southern British Columbia east to the Cascades in the north and southward to the central California Coast Range. |
What does Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989 eat?
The diet of the Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989 includes The larvae appear to be generalist feeders and have been reported to feed on various flowering trees and shrubs, such as Huckleberry Vaccinium spp , snowberry Symphoricarpus sp , salmonberry Rubus spectabilis , and Indian-plum Osmoronia(Oemlaria) cerasiformis ..
When is Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989 active?
Adelphagrotis stellaris - Hodges#10989: seasonal activity - Adults have been collected in July and August..