Aon Moth - Hodges#8954
Aon noctuiformis
This record describes Aon noctuiformis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: head and thorax dark gray tinged with rufous; thin transverse black line behind collar, rear edge of thorax raised, tufted, often blackish. Forewing mottled: black striations and speckling in basal half and in subterminal area; costal half mostly pale gray; dull rufous shading on inner half, often with 3 or 4 small cream-colored patches in an oblique band in the blackish subterminal area; apical area frequently whitish; discal spot bar-shaped, black, distinct; fringe white basally, dark distally, with dark wedge-shaped streaks from each vein; hindwing white with faint dark discal spot showing through from ventral surface [see original detailed description at archive.org]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Hypocalinae
- Genus
- Aon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas, generally from the Austin area south and west. Type locality: Southwest Texas, Neuces River. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. iNaturalist - seasonal chart and map.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly year round in Texas, with peak flights in February-March and September (iNaturalist).
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Adult Female; Adult Male:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aon noctuiformis. 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 Aon Moth - Hodges#8954 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Aon Moth - Hodges#8954
What is Aon Moth - Hodges#8954?
Aon Moth - Hodges#8954 (Aon noctuiformis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Aon Moth - Hodges#8954?
Wingspan about 29-34 mm.
How do you identify Aon Moth - Hodges#8954?
Adult: head and thorax dark gray tinged with rufous; thin transverse black line behind collar, rear edge of thorax raised, tufted, often blackish. Forewing mottled: black striations and speckling in basal half and in subterminal area; costal half mostly pale gray; dull rufous shading on inner half, often with 3 or 4 small cream-colored patches in an oblique band in the blackish subterminal area; apical area frequently whitish; discal spot bar-shaped, black, distinct; fringe white basally, dark distally, with dark wedge-shaped streaks from each vein; hindwing white with faint dark discal spot showing through from ventral surface [see original detailed description at archive.org]
Where is Aon Moth - Hodges#8954 found?
Range: Texas, generally from the Austin area south and west. Type locality: Southwest Texas, Neuces River. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. iNaturalist - seasonal chart and map.
When is Aon Moth - Hodges#8954 active?
Aon Moth - Hodges#8954: seasonal activity - Adults fly year round in Texas, with peak flights in February-March and September (iNaturalist)..
What is the life cycle of a Aon Moth - Hodges#8954?
Adult Female; Adult Male: