Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910
Anicla tepperi
This record describes Anicla tepperi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A medium size (3.6 - 4.0 cm wingspan) blue-grey moth with prominent but variable darker grey or black banding and streaking. The normal lines are usually well-marked, in particular the antemedian and postmedian lines. The orbicular spot is nearly obsolete, but the reniform is marked by a patch of black scales. The veins are lighter than the ground, and there is usually darker scaling between them, resulting in a streaky appearance. The hindwings are white, shading slightly darker toward the outer margin. There is a prominent and contrasting jet-black prothoracic collar, slightly crescent-shaped, which will distinguish it from similar species. The related E. exuberans also has a black collar, but is paler grey or brown and lacks the lines across the wings. The larvae are described in Lafontaine (2004). The genus Euagrotis was recently sunk to subgeneric status under Anicla. (This text from E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
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
Habitat
Dry native grasslands
Geographic Range
Eastern Manitoba west to the Alberta foothills, north to about Lloydminster and south to southern Colorado. In Alberta found throughout the grasslands and southern foothills, north to the Edmonton and Lloyminster areas.
Seasonal Activity
June through mid July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae have been reared on wheat, but are believed to feed naturally on a variety of grasses (Lafontaine, 2004).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anicla tepperi. 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 tepperi - Hodges#10910 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ian Maton
Frequently Asked Questions About Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910
What is Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910?
Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910 (Anicla tepperi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910?
3.6 - 4.0 cm
How do you identify Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910?
A medium size (3.6 - 4.0 cm wingspan) blue-grey moth with prominent but variable darker grey or black banding and streaking. The normal lines are usually well-marked, in particular the antemedian and postmedian lines. The orbicular spot is nearly obsolete, but the reniform is marked by a patch of black scales. The veins are lighter than the ground, and there is usually darker scaling between them, resulting in a streaky appearance. The hindwings are white, shading slightly darker toward the outer margin. There is a prominent and contrasting jet-black prothoracic collar, slightly crescent-shaped, which will distinguish it from similar species. The related E. exuberans also has a black collar, but is paler grey or brown and lacks the lines across the wings. The larvae are described in Lafontaine (2004). The genus Euagrotis was recently sunk to subgeneric status under Anicla. (This text from E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
Where is Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry native grasslands |
| Range | Eastern Manitoba west to the Alberta foothills, north to about Lloydminster and south to southern Colorado. In Alberta found throughout the grasslands and southern foothills, north to the Edmonton and Lloyminster areas. |
What does Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910 eat?
The diet of the Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910 includes The larvae have been reared on wheat, but are believed to feed naturally on a variety of grasses (Lafontaine, 2004)..
When is Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910 active?
Anicla tepperi - Hodges#10910: seasonal activity - June through mid July.