Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654
Agrotis buchholzi
This record describes Agrotis buchholzi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Agrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Coastal barrens
Geographic Range
Occurs in the New Jersey pine barrens and coastal North Carolina. Type locality: Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on flowing pixiemoss ( Pyxidanthera barbulata ) (Schweitzer & McCabe, 2004).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of New Jersey Lepidopterist and collector Otto Buchholz (1874-1958).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotis buchholzi. 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 Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Paul Dennehy; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654
How big is Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654?
Wingspan 28 mm (Barnes & Benjamin, 1929).
Where is Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal barrens |
| Range | Occurs in the New Jersey pine barrens and coastal North Carolina. Type locality: Lakehurst, New Jersey. |
What does Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654 eat?
The diet of the Agrotis buchholzi - Hodges#10654 includes Larvae feed on flowing pixiemoss ( Pyxidanthera barbulata ) (Schweitzer & McCabe, 2004)..