Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530
Anhimella contrahens
This record describes Anhimella contrahens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This species can usually be recognized despite the variation in color and degree of mottling by the small size, dull-color, toothed lines with pale filling and smooth courses across the wing, and pale spots with dark filling .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Eriopygini
- Genus
- Anhimella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"This species is widely distributed in forest and riparian habitats"
Geographic Range
"From the Northwest Territories and British Columbia across Canada to Nova Scotia and south to California, Arizona, Colorado, and in the East, to New Jersey" .
Seasonal Activity
Late June to early August .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Captive larvae will feed on dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ), but the preferred wild host is unknown .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anhimella contrahens. 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 Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530
What is Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530?
Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530 (Anhimella contrahens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530?
Forewing length: 12-13 mm .
How do you identify Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530?
This species can usually be recognized despite the variation in color and degree of mottling by the small size, dull-color, toothed lines with pale filling and smooth courses across the wing, and pale spots with dark filling .
Where is Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species is widely distributed in forest and riparian habitats |
| Range | From the Northwest Territories and British Columbia across Canada to Nova Scotia and south to California, Arizona, Colorado, and in the East, to New Jersey . |
What does Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530 eat?
The diet of the Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530 includes Captive larvae will feed on dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ), but the preferred wild host is unknown ..
When is Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530 active?
Anhimella contrahens - Hodges#10530: seasonal activity - Late June to early August ..