Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1
Apamea digitula
This record describes Apamea digitula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Apamea sordens and A. digitula can only be separated by dissection or DNA. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 5 )
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
Oregon to southern California. Moth Photographers Group has New Mexico included in the range.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May through June. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on various grasses. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea digitula. 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 digitula - Hodges#9364.1 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1
What is Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1?
Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1 (Apamea digitula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1?
Forewing length 16-19 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1?
Apamea sordens and A. digitula can only be separated by dissection or DNA. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 5 )
Where is Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1 found?
Range: Oregon to southern California. Moth Photographers Group has New Mexico included in the range.
What does Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1 eat?
The diet of the Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1 includes Larvae feed on various grasses. ( 4 ).
When is Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1 active?
Apamea digitula - Hodges#9364.1: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May through June. ( 4 ).