Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903
Anicla illapsa
This record describes Anicla illapsa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray to reddish-brown with black speckling; dark shading beyond PM line, especially near costa; reniform spot blackish, often broken into 2 or 3 parts; lines darkest at costa; hindwing white with some gray at apex in male, more along outer margin in female; thoracic collar thin, black. Shape of valvae consistent with A. illapsa. Lacks blunt spine on the vesica, weak digitus on valvae, and margins on valvae almost parallel that are described for A. forbesi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Anicla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Brunswick to Florida, west to Texas, Nebraska, and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to October (2 broods)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae have been reared on Timothy ( Phleum pratense ) and probably feed on a variety of other grasses. * usda.gov USDA plant information
Life History
two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anicla illapsa. 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 Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , Nick Block , Randy Hardy , JoAnneRusso , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903
What is Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903?
Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903 (Anicla illapsa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903?
wingspan 29-35 mm
How do you identify Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903?
Adult: forewing light gray to reddish-brown with black speckling; dark shading beyond PM line, especially near costa; reniform spot blackish, often broken into 2 or 3 parts; lines darkest at costa; hindwing white with some gray at apex in male, more along outer margin in female; thoracic collar thin, black. Shape of valvae consistent with A. illapsa. Lacks blunt spine on the vesica, weak digitus on valvae, and margins on valvae almost parallel that are described for A. forbesi.
Where is Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903 found?
Range: New Brunswick to Florida, west to Texas, Nebraska, and Ontario
What does Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903 eat?
The diet of the Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903 includes larvae have been reared on Timothy ( Phleum pratense ) and probably feed on a variety of other grasses. * usda.gov USDA plant information.
When is Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903 active?
Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to October (2 broods).
What is the life cycle of a Snowy Dart - Hodges#10903?
two generations per year