LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641

Amphipyra brunneoatra

This record describes Amphipyra brunneoatra (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 - Amphipyra brunneoatra
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Pacific Northwest Moths has a detailed description. 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
Amphipyrinae
Tribe
Amphipyrini
Genus
Amphipyra

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Southern Oregon to southern California and Colorado. , , ,

Diet and Behavior

Diet: The species is thought to feed on Populus species (cottonwoods).

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Amphipyra brunneoatra. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 (5)

Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641

What is Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641?

Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 (Amphipyra brunneoatra) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641?

Forewing length about length 16 mm.

How do you identify Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641?

Pacific Northwest Moths has a detailed description. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).

Where is Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 found?

Range: Southern Oregon to southern California and Colorado. , , ,

What does Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 eat?

The diet of the Amphipyra brunneoatra - Hodges#9641 includes The species is thought to feed on Populus species (cottonwoods)..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.