Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907
Anicla simplicius
This record describes Anicla simplicius (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale gray or tan-colored with sparse black speckling; three irregular black pieces grouped in area of reniform spot; faint dark streaks in areas where orbicular and claviform spots normally present; terminal line composed of short black dashes; hindwing white; thorax lacks black collar page creation based on identification of this image by Jan Metlevski
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
southeastern United States: Internet records from Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly all year in deep south; spring through fall farther north
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anicla simplicius. 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 Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907
What is Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907?
Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907 (Anicla simplicius) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907?
Adult: forewing pale gray or tan-colored with sparse black speckling; three irregular black pieces grouped in area of reniform spot; faint dark streaks in areas where orbicular and claviform spots normally present; terminal line composed of short black dashes; hindwing white; thorax lacks black collar
Where is Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907 found?
Range: southeastern United States: Internet records from Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas
When is Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907 active?
Anicla simplicius - Hodges#10907: seasonal activity - adults fly all year in deep south; spring through fall farther north.