Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165
Aleptina semiatra
This record describes Aleptina semiatra (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smith original description as Acontia semiatra is online in PDF. Todd et al stated This species is unmistakable and superficially is totally unlike the rest of the genus. The forewing is dirty white with a dull grey median area. The subterminal area is also generally suffused with dull grey. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Condicinae
- Tribe
- Leuconyctini
- Genus
- Aleptina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California ( 5 ) and Arizona ( 6 ) . Holotype ♂ & ♀ from Quartzite, Yuma County, Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be April to September. ( 7 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Todd et al (1984) reported the host as unknown. ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aleptina semiatra. 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 Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165
What is Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165?
Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165 (Aleptina semiatra) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165?
Smith listed the wingspan 20-21 mm.
How do you identify Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165?
Smith original description as Acontia semiatra is online in PDF. Todd et al stated This species is unmistakable and superficially is totally unlike the rest of the genus. The forewing is dirty white with a dull grey median area. The subterminal area is also generally suffused with dull grey. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165 found?
Range: Southern California ( 5 ) and Arizona ( 6 ) . Holotype ♂ & ♀ from Quartzite, Yuma County, Arizona.
What does Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165 eat?
The diet of the Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165 includes Todd et al (1984) reported the host as unknown. ( 3 ).
When is Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165 active?
Aleptina semiatra - Hodges#9165: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be April to September. ( 7 ).