Apamea acera - Hodges#9338
Apamea acera
This record describes Apamea acera (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Apamea acera is the only large ash-gray Apamea in North America. Usually, there is some orange shading around the orbicular and reniform spots. The basal dash is sharply defined in black and frequently extends almost to the postmedian line. The claviform spot is also outlined in black and extends about 3/4 of the distance to the postmedian line. The transverse lines are obscure.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Apamea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Montane forests
Geographic Range
Northwestern U.S. and southern British Columbia, south to the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California. Also disjunct populations in eastern Nevada and Utah.
Seasonal Activity
Adults from mid-June to Mid-October
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea acera. 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 Apamea acera - Hodges#9338 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Paul Dennehy
Frequently Asked Questions About Apamea acera - Hodges#9338
What is Apamea acera - Hodges#9338?
Apamea acera - Hodges#9338 (Apamea acera) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apamea acera - Hodges#9338?
Forewing length 20-25 mm
How do you identify Apamea acera - Hodges#9338?
Apamea acera is the only large ash-gray Apamea in North America. Usually, there is some orange shading around the orbicular and reniform spots. The basal dash is sharply defined in black and frequently extends almost to the postmedian line. The claviform spot is also outlined in black and extends about 3/4 of the distance to the postmedian line. The transverse lines are obscure.
Where is Apamea acera - Hodges#9338 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Montane forests |
| Range | Northwestern U.S. and southern British Columbia, south to the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California. Also disjunct populations in eastern Nevada and Utah. |
When is Apamea acera - Hodges#9338 active?
Apamea acera - Hodges#9338: seasonal activity - Adults from mid-June to Mid-October.