Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1
Alastria chico
This record describes Alastria chico (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Detailed description at Pacific Northwest Moths Lafontaine & Troubridge original description.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Actinotiini
- Genus
- Alastria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April through October. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plant is Hypericum L. spp. (St. John`s wort). ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Alastria chico. 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 Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1
What is Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1?
Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1 (Alastria chico) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1?
Forewing length 15-18 mm. ,
How do you identify Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1?
Detailed description at Pacific Northwest Moths Lafontaine & Troubridge original description.
Where is Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1 found?
Range: California to British Columbia. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1 eat?
The diet of the Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1 includes Larval host plant is Hypericum L. spp. (St. John`s wort). ,.
When is Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1 active?
Alastria chico - Hodges#9522.1: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April through October. ( 4 ).