Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645
Agrotis orthogonia
This record describes Agrotis orthogonia (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW pale putty to light gray-brown ground color • AM irregular with a long lateral loop at the inner margin • Claviform spot is small to medium sized, black and often filled with darker gray • Orbicular and reniform spots are black, filled with the ground color peripherally and dull gray centrally • PM dentate, slightly convex toward the margin near the reniform spot and then slightly obliqued toward the base to the trailing margin • Subterminal line is pale, preceded by a dark gray patch at the costa, and forms a broad W mark toward the margin on veins M3 and CuA1 • terminal area is darker gray (a) Larva : pale yellow gray, darker on the sides than dorsally. The pale middorsal line is bounded on both sides by diffuse darker lines. There are also diffuse thin dark subdorsal lines. The head is unusual in being yellowish brown with ot without dark shading. When present, shading may form a distinct H or X-shaped pattern
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
intermountains and high plains sagebrush and desert scrub
Geographic Range
Alberta east to southwestern Saskatchewan, south to southern California, central Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas
Seasonal Activity
single flight from mid July to early October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on herbaceous plants and grasses in 11 families
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotis orthogonia. 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 Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Nanz; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645
What is Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645?
Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645 (Agrotis orthogonia) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645?
forewing length 13 - 17 mm
How do you identify Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645?
Adult : FW pale putty to light gray-brown ground color • AM irregular with a long lateral loop at the inner margin • Claviform spot is small to medium sized, black and often filled with darker gray • Orbicular and reniform spots are black, filled with the ground color peripherally and dull gray centrally • PM dentate, slightly convex toward the margin near the reniform spot and then slightly obliqued toward the base to the trailing margin • Subterminal line is pale, preceded by a dark gray patch at the costa, and forms a broad W mark toward the margin on veins M3 and CuA1 • terminal area is darker gray (a) Larva : pale yellow gray, darker on the sides than dorsally. The pale middorsal line is bounded on both sides by diffuse darker lines. There are also diffuse thin dark subdorsal lines. The head is unusual in being yellowish brown with ot without dark shading. When present, shading may form a distinct H or X-shaped pattern
Where is Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | intermountains and high plains sagebrush and desert scrub |
| Range | Alberta east to southwestern Saskatchewan, south to southern California, central Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas |
What does Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645 eat?
The diet of the Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645 includes larvae feed on herbaceous plants and grasses in 11 families.
When is Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645 active?
Pale Western Cutworm - Hodges#10645: seasonal activity - single flight from mid July to early October.