Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382
Apamea devastator
This record describes Apamea devastator (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia: considered a serious pest of sod grass and agricultural products
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
Alaska to Newfoundland; south to California and Arizona; Texas; in eastern US south to Virginia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on a variety of grasses and some herbaceous plants
Life History
Larva; pupa:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea devastator. 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 Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , John Davis , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382
What is Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382?
Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382 (Apamea devastator) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382?
forewing length 16-18 mm
How do you identify Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382?
Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia:
Where is Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382 found?
Range: Alaska to Newfoundland; south to California and Arizona; Texas; in eastern US south to Virginia
What does Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382 eat?
The diet of the Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382 includes larvae feed on a variety of grasses and some herbaceous plants.
When is Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382 active?
Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September.
What is the life cycle of a Glassy Cutworm - Hodges#9382?
Larva; pupa: