Agrotis daedalus - Hodges#10642
Agrotis daedalus
This record describes Agrotis daedalus (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
Geographic Range
widespread in western NA (AZ, AB, CO, KA, MO, NE, NM, NV, SD, SK, TX, UT, WY)
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on the wing in early spring. There is one generation per year.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotis daedalus. 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 daedalus - Hodges#10642 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bob Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Agrotis daedalus - Hodges#10642
How big is Agrotis daedalus - Hodges#10642?
wingspan ≈38mm
Where is Agrotis daedalus - Hodges#10642 found?
Range: widespread in western NA (AZ, AB, CO, KA, MO, NE, NM, NV, SD, SK, TX, UT, WY)
When is Agrotis daedalus - Hodges#10642 active?
Agrotis daedalus - Hodges#10642: seasonal activity - Adults are on the wing in early spring. There is one generation per year..