Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360
Apamea impulsa
This record describes Apamea impulsa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing very dark gray with black lines that contrast only slightly against ground color; AM and PM lines indistinct; center of reniform spot slightly paler than perimeter; orbicular and claviform spots visible as black outlines; orbicular spot small and does not come close to touching reniform spot; two black basal dashes; subterminal area and most of median area appear flat (dull, with no markings); subterminal line a broken series of indistinct pale dots; terminal line composed of black slightly-curved dashes; fringe black; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to dark gray distally; head and thorax black; abdomen gray; adults at rest hold their wings flat side-by-side (not overlapping), giving an overall triangular shape when viewed from above A previously misidentified photo that was on this page has been moved to the Fleece-winged Dart page.
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
fields, grasslands
Geographic Range
coast to coast across southern Canada and northern United States
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on grasses
Life History
one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea impulsa. 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 impulsa - Hodges#9360 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360
What is Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360?
Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360 (Apamea impulsa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360?
wingspan about 34 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360?
Adult: forewing very dark gray with black lines that contrast only slightly against ground color; AM and PM lines indistinct; center of reniform spot slightly paler than perimeter; orbicular and claviform spots visible as black outlines; orbicular spot small and does not come close to touching reniform spot; two black basal dashes; subterminal area and most of median area appear flat (dull, with no markings); subterminal line a broken series of indistinct pale dots; terminal line composed of black slightly-curved dashes; fringe black; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to dark gray distally; head and thorax black; abdomen gray; adults at rest hold their wings flat side-by-side (not overlapping), giving an overall triangular shape when viewed from above
Where is Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, grasslands |
| Range | coast to coast across southern Canada and northern United States |
What does Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360 eat?
The diet of the Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360 includes larvae feed on grasses.
When is Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360 active?
Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Apamea impulsa - Hodges#9360?
one generation per year