American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457
Amphipoea americana
This record describes Amphipoea americana (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | forewing bright rusty-orange shaded with orangish-brown; veins, lines, and spots darker brown; the white scales or lack of white scales in the reniform spot is not useful in determining the species. |
| Hindwing | hindwing grayish-brown with orange fringe Genitalia: ♀ 7th sternite in female A. interoceanica is deeply notched. ♂ digitus extends beyond valvae |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Amphipoea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
coast to coast in northern United States and southern Canada, plus Northwest Territories; south in the west to California, south in the east to Georgia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July through September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on grasses, sedges, and sometimes roots of corn
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Amphipoea americana. 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 American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Jason D. Roberts , marcie oconnor , JoAnneRusso , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457
What is American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457?
American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457 (Amphipoea americana) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457?
wingspan 28-36 mm
How do you identify American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | forewing bright rusty-orange shaded with orangish-brown; veins, lines, and spots darker brown; the white scales or lack of white scales in the reniform spot is not useful in determining the species. |
| Hindwing | hindwing grayish-brown with orange fringe Genitalia: ♀ 7th sternite in female A. interoceanica is deeply notched. ♂ digitus extends beyond valvae |
Where is American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457 found?
Range: coast to coast in northern United States and southern Canada, plus Northwest Territories; south in the west to California, south in the east to Georgia
What does American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457 eat?
The diet of the American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457 includes larvae feed on grasses, sedges, and sometimes roots of corn.
When is American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457 active?
American Ear Moth - Hodges#9457: seasonal activity - adults fly from July through September.