Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1
Apamea cogitata
This record describes Apamea cogitata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing reddish-brown, darker in subterminal area; reniform spot pale yellow or whitish with dark line running through it; orbicular spot oval, diagonal, with faint whitish outline; subterminal line thin, pale, jagged, indistinct; series of whitish dots along costa and outer margin hindwing grayish, darker toward margins, with blackish veins and terminal line; fringe brownish-yellow In the West, cogitata tends toward a dark gray brown without any reddish hue and are easily mistaken for Apamea dubitans which is not found in the West except for a disjunct population in northern Colorado.
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
Newfoundland to British Columbia and Northwest Territories, plus adjacent parts of United States, south in the west to Colorado, Utah and California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from mid-June to late September with most records between mid-July and mid-August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae may feed on grasses? (McGill U.)
Life History
one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: COGITATA: from the Latin "cogitare" (to think)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea cogitata. 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 Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1
What is Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1?
Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1 (Apamea cogitata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1?
forewing length: 16-21 mm
How do you identify Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1?
forewing reddish-brown, darker in subterminal area; reniform spot pale yellow or whitish with dark line running through it; orbicular spot oval, diagonal, with faint whitish outline; subterminal line thin, pale, jagged, indistinct; series of whitish dots along costa and outer margin hindwing grayish, darker toward margins, with blackish veins and terminal line; fringe brownish-yellow In the West, cogitata tends toward a dark gray brown without any reddish hue and are easily mistaken for Apamea dubitans which is not found in the West except for a disjunct population in northern Colorado.
Where is Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1 found?
Range: Newfoundland to British Columbia and Northwest Territories, plus adjacent parts of United States, south in the west to Colorado, Utah and California
What does Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1 eat?
The diet of the Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1 includes larvae may feed on grasses? (McGill U.).
When is Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1 active?
Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1: seasonal activity - adults fly from mid-June to late September with most records between mid-July and mid-August.
What is the life cycle of a Thoughtful Apamea - Hodges#9367.1?
one generation per year