Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070
Amyna stricta
This record describes Amyna stricta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably reddish-brown to dark brown with indistinct black mottling and lines in basal half; reniform spot shaped like an 8", the lower half either solid white to orangish or filled with ground color, and the upper half with broken white outline; six small pale spots along costa; PM line black, toothed, sinuate; terminal line checkered with dark and light spots; fringe dark gray to blackish; hindwing dark brownish-gray, darker toward outer margin
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Bagisarinae
- Genus
- Amyna
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Fields, waste places, dry areas; adults are nocturnal and come to light.
Geographic Range
Resident worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, migrating north each year in late summer and fall. Fairly common in the south from Florida to Arizona; regular migrant to mideastern states, and rarely as far as Wisconsin, Ontario, and Quebec.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from August to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Poole (1989) lists the larval host as lambsquarters ( Chenopodum album ). HOSTS database ( 4 ) lists pigweed ( Amaranthus spp.) and balloonvine ( Cardiospermum spp.) in our area. A variety of hosts are used throughout the world including plants from Leguminosae, Amaranthaceae, Tiliaceae, Compositae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Sapindaceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Common name "Eight-Spot" from the synonym Perigea octo derived from Greek "okta" meaning eight; refers to the "figure 8" spot on the forewing
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Amyna stricta. 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 Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Chris Grinter , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070
What is Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070?
Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070 (Amyna stricta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070?
Wingspan 20-25 mm (Covell, 1984). ( 3 )
How do you identify Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070?
Adult: forewing variably reddish-brown to dark brown with indistinct black mottling and lines in basal half; reniform spot shaped like an 8", the lower half either solid white to orangish or filled with ground color, and the upper half with broken white outline; six small pale spots along costa; PM line black, toothed, sinuate; terminal line checkered with dark and light spots; fringe dark gray to blackish; hindwing dark brownish-gray, darker toward outer margin
Where is Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Fields, waste places, dry areas; adults are nocturnal and come to light. |
| Range | Resident worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, migrating north each year in late summer and fall. Fairly common in the south from Florida to Arizona; regular migrant to mideastern states, and rarely as far as Wisconsin, Ontario, and Quebec. |
What does Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070 eat?
The diet of the Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070 includes Poole (1989) lists the larval host as lambsquarters ( Chenopodum album ). HOSTS database ( 4 ) lists pigweed ( Amaranthus spp.) and balloonvine ( Cardiospermum spp.) in our area. A variety of hosts are used throughout the world including plants from Leguminosae, Amaranthaceae, Tiliaceae, Compositae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Sapindaceae..
When is Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070 active?
Eight-Spot - Hodges#9070: seasonal activity - Adults fly from August to October..