Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564
Andropolia contacta
This record describes Andropolia contacta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing ground color white but covered with black speckling, giving an overall gray appearance; AM, PM, and subterminal lines black, zigzag, with large sharp teeth; thin black line runs along main vein to lower corner of reniform spot; basal dash faint or lacking; black anal dash thin, inconspicuous; terminal area with more dark shading than in A. aedon ; terminal line a series of black spots that extend into fringe; hindwing light gray with dark PM line, dark veins, and diffuse discal spot; terminal line thin, dark; fringe pale gray or whitish
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Andropolia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
boreal forest
Geographic Range
Alaska to Newfoundland, south to New England, New York, Colorado, and southern British Columbia; apparently absent from Oregon but one record from California type specimen collected in Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly mostly in July and August; one record from California in September, and one from Alberta in October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus ), birch ( Betula ), Quaking Aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), and willow ( Salix )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Andropolia contacta. 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 Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564
What is Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564?
Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564 (Andropolia contacta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564?
wingspan about 44 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564?
Adult: forewing ground color white but covered with black speckling, giving an overall gray appearance; AM, PM, and subterminal lines black, zigzag, with large sharp teeth; thin black line runs along main vein to lower corner of reniform spot; basal dash faint or lacking; black anal dash thin, inconspicuous; terminal area with more dark shading than in A. aedon ; terminal line a series of black spots that extend into fringe; hindwing light gray with dark PM line, dark veins, and diffuse discal spot; terminal line thin, dark; fringe pale gray or whitish
Where is Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | boreal forest |
| Range | Alaska to Newfoundland, south to New England, New York, Colorado, and southern British Columbia; apparently absent from Oregon but one record from California type specimen collected in Ontario |
What does Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564 eat?
The diet of the Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus ), birch ( Betula ), Quaking Aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), and willow ( Salix ).
When is Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564 active?
Canadian Giant - Hodges#9564: seasonal activity - adults fly mostly in July and August; one record from California in September, and one from Alberta in October.