Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942
Americerura scitiscripta
This record describes Americerura scitiscripta (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white with sharp double black lines and small black reniform spot; black streaks also extend along veins; hindwing gray; Florida specimens have reduced black markings and white hindwing Larva: body lime green with white subspiracular stripe; third thoracic segment humped, bearing white or lavender transverse ridge; anterior of first thoracic segment reddish with dark eyespots to either side; tails (anal prolegs) with extrusible portion yellow, tentaclelike, flailed over body when disturbed [description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cerurinae
- Genus
- Americerura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
deciduous woodlands near rivers and lakes; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Quebec and New England to Florida, west to Texas, north to Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to October in the south; June and July in the north larvae from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of cherry, poplar, and willow
Life History
one or two generations per year, depending on latitude larva; larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Americerura scitiscripta. 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 Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthew Roth; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Ryan St Laurent , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942
What is Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942?
Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942 (Americerura scitiscripta) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942?
wingspan 25-40 mm ; male much smaller than female
How do you identify Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942?
Adult: forewing white with sharp double black lines and small black reniform spot; black streaks also extend along veins; hindwing gray; Florida specimens have reduced black markings and white hindwing Larva: body lime green with white subspiracular stripe; third thoracic segment humped, bearing white or lavender transverse ridge; anterior of first thoracic segment reddish with dark eyespots to either side; tails (anal prolegs) with extrusible portion yellow, tentaclelike, flailed over body when disturbed [description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]
Where is Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | deciduous woodlands near rivers and lakes; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Quebec and New England to Florida, west to Texas, north to Alberta |
What does Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942 eat?
The diet of the Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942 includes larvae feed on leaves of cherry, poplar, and willow.
When is Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942 active?
Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to October in the south; June and July in the north larvae from June to September.
What is the life cycle of a Black-etched Prominent - Hodges#7942?
one or two generations per year, depending on latitude larva; larva; adult