Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648
Agrotis gladiaria
This record describes Agrotis gladiaria (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia:
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
Eastern half or two-thirds of US and adjacent parts of eastern Canada, except New Brunswick; absent west of Ontario ( CBIF )
Seasonal Activity
Fly September to October, depending on the location.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: According to Covell the larvae "the Clay-backed Cutworm eats many wild and cultivated plants, such as beans, berries, corn, and tobacco."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotis gladiaria. 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 Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648
What is Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648?
Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648 (Agrotis gladiaria) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648?
Length of FW 13 - 16mm
How do you identify Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia:
Where is Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648 found?
Range: Eastern half or two-thirds of US and adjacent parts of eastern Canada, except New Brunswick; absent west of Ontario ( CBIF )
What does Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648 eat?
The diet of the Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648 includes According to Covell the larvae the Clay-backed Cutworm eats many wild and cultivated plants, such as beans, berries, corn, and tobacco..
When is Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648 active?
Swordsman Dart - Hodges#10648: seasonal activity - Fly September to October, depending on the location..