Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348
Apamea amputatrix
This record describes Apamea amputatrix (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing mostly deep red with pale gray subterminal band; reniform spot has two distinctive small white dots at inside corner. A dark gray form also occurs.
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
Geographic Range
Throughout North America, north to the arctic.
Seasonal Activity
The peak flight period is June through August. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "Larva attacks cabbage, corn, currants, grasses, lettuce, roses, wheat, and young trees (often fruit trees)."
Life History
Pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea amputatrix. 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 Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Jason D. Roberts , Maury Heiman , Jay Greenberg , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348
What is Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348?
Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348 (Apamea amputatrix) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348?
44-50 mm Wingspan
How do you identify Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348?
Forewing mostly deep red with pale gray subterminal band; reniform spot has two distinctive small white dots at inside corner. A dark gray form also occurs.
Where is Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348 found?
Range: Throughout North America, north to the arctic.
What does Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348 eat?
The diet of the Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348 includes Larva attacks cabbage, corn, currants, grasses, lettuce, roses, wheat, and young trees (often fruit trees)..
When is Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348 active?
Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348: seasonal activity - The peak flight period is June through August. ( 3 ).
What is the life cycle of a Yellow-headed Cutworm - Hodges#9348?
Pupa; adult