Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510
Arugisa latiorella
This record describes Arugisa latiorella (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW darker, brownish color ● labial palps are more slender, projecting forward almost horizontally ● PM line is more continuous, with less noticeable black dots along its length ● less dark shading inside subterminal line than Arugisa lutea Arugisa latiorella (Walker, 1863) is now the valid name for the less common, brown-colored species, formerly known as A. Watsoni .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Scolecocampinae
- Genus
- Arugisa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida to Texas, north to Kansas and Maryland. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 )
Seasonal Activity
Heppner (2003) reports adults from January to November. ( 10 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on living and dead Poa pratensis L. (bluegrass). ( 11 ) , ( 9 ) , ( 12 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arugisa latiorella. 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 Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by JohnMaxwell22 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510
What is Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510?
Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510 (Arugisa latiorella) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510?
Wingspan 18-22 mm.
How do you identify Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510?
Adult : FW darker, brownish color ● labial palps are more slender, projecting forward almost horizontally ● PM line is more continuous, with less noticeable black dots along its length ● less dark shading inside subterminal line than Arugisa lutea
Where is Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510 found?
Range: Florida to Texas, north to Kansas and Maryland. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 )
What does Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510 eat?
The diet of the Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510 includes Larvae feed on living and dead Poa pratensis L. (bluegrass). ( 11 ) , ( 9 ) , ( 12 ).
When is Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510 active?
Watson's Arugisa - Hodges#8510: seasonal activity - Heppner (2003) reports adults from January to November. ( 10 ).