LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901

Anicla lubricans

This record describes Anicla lubricans (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 - Anicla lubricans
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs

Easily confused with the very similar Anicla illapsa . The safest way to separate the 2 species is by looking at the hindwings. On Anicla illapsa , the hindwings are white but on Anicla lubricans the hindwings are grayish.

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.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anicla lubricans. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 (5)

Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs
Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs
Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs
Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs
Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs

Frequently Asked Questions About Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901

What is Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901?

Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901 (Anicla lubricans) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901?

Wingspan is about 35 mm.

How do you identify Anicla lubricans - Hodges#10901?

Easily confused with the very similar Anicla illapsa . The safest way to separate the 2 species is by looking at the hindwings. On Anicla illapsa , the hindwings are white but on Anicla lubricans the hindwings are grayish.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Ken Childs. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.