The Mutant - Hodges#10224
Anarta mutata
This record describes Anarta mutata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with double AM and PM lines; orbicular spot oblong; dark shading in lower half of reniform spot; claviform spot cone-shaped (may be dark in some specimens, pale in others); subterminal line whitish, distinct, with large W-shaped jog near middle; fringe checkered with pale and dark scales; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to dark gray distally, with dark gray veins; fringe whitish
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Anarta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
western North America: Texas to California, north to British Columbia, east to Manitoba
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to October in California
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: mutata : from the Latin verb "mutare" (to change; to mutate); I don't know how the word applies to the moth but it's the origin of the suggested common name The Mutant, intended as a companion to the name of its sister species The Nutmeg
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anarta mutata. 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 The Mutant - Hodges#10224 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chris Grinter , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About The Mutant - Hodges#10224
What is The Mutant - Hodges#10224?
The Mutant - Hodges#10224 (Anarta mutata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is The Mutant - Hodges#10224?
wingspan about 34-35 mm, based on two Internet photos
How do you identify The Mutant - Hodges#10224?
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with double AM and PM lines; orbicular spot oblong; dark shading in lower half of reniform spot; claviform spot cone-shaped (may be dark in some specimens, pale in others); subterminal line whitish, distinct, with large W-shaped jog near middle; fringe checkered with pale and dark scales; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to dark gray distally, with dark gray veins; fringe whitish
Where is The Mutant - Hodges#10224 found?
Range: western North America: Texas to California, north to British Columbia, east to Manitoba
When is The Mutant - Hodges#10224 active?
The Mutant - Hodges#10224: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to October in California.