The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650
Athetis tarda
This record describes Athetis tarda (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing dark grayish-brown; lines darker but usually inconspicuous; ST line wavy with pale tan to yellowish edging; spots inconspicuous, blackish; group of 4 pale dots around perimeter of reniform spot is diagnostic but not always present. ( 3 ) ; sometimes pale dots reduced to 1 or none. Types: Holotype as Caradrina tarda by Guenee, 1852. Type Locality: West Virginia per Morrison (1876). Guenee’s, along with Boisduval’s collection are part of the Obelthur collection in the British Museum of Natural History, London, England. Holotype as Anorthodes prima male by Smith, 1891. Type Locality: Florida and Washington, D.C. In the Meyer collection at the United States National Museum, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Caradrinini
- Genus
- Athetis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Very common in oak woodlands.
Geographic Range
Heppner (2003) listed the range as New Hampshire to Florida, Missouri to Texas. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) ; Ontario
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from April to September. BugGuide records indicate two distinct flights throughout the entire range, late-March through May and late-August through September. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on dead oak leaves. , ,
Life History
At rest on a dead leaf the larva presents a false head look with a swollen rearward segment and spots. When threatened the larva may raise rear abdominal segments and release anal prolegs to complete the deception. Lab reared caterpillars sometimes cannibalistic.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: TARDA: from the Latin "tardus" (slow), and the origin of the common name The Slowpoke. Wagner et al. notes that the aptly-named caterpillar is lethargic and will feign death when disturbed.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Athetis tarda. 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 The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , lee_penner
Frequently Asked Questions About The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650
What is The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650?
The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650 (Athetis tarda) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650?
Wingspan 23-35 mm. ; 14 to 15 mm long. Larva to 3 cm.
How do you identify The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650?
Adult - forewing dark grayish-brown; lines darker but usually inconspicuous; ST line wavy with pale tan to yellowish edging; spots inconspicuous, blackish; group of 4 pale dots around perimeter of reniform spot is diagnostic but not always present. ( 3 ) ; sometimes pale dots reduced to 1 or none.
Where is The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Very common in oak woodlands. |
| Range | Heppner (2003) listed the range as New Hampshire to Florida, Missouri to Texas. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) ; Ontario |
What does The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650 eat?
The diet of the The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650 includes Larvae feed on dead oak leaves. , ,.
When is The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650 active?
The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650: seasonal activity - Adults fly from April to September. BugGuide records indicate two distinct flights throughout the entire range, late-March through May and late-August through September. ( 3 ).
What is the life cycle of a The Slowpoke - Hodges#9650?
At rest on a dead leaf the larva presents a false head look with a swollen rearward segment and spots. When threatened the larva may raise rear abdominal segments and release anal prolegs to complete the deception. Lab reared caterpillars sometimes cannibalistic.