Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923
Autographa ampla
This record describes Autographa ampla (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults - forewing gray with dark brown or black apical dash and sharply-defined blackish or dark reddish-brown lower median area; stigma white, diagonal, U-shaped, forming upper border of median patch; small pinkish patch distal to reniform spot, and pinkish tints often present along AM and PM lines; small black patches along costa near AM and PM lines and at anal angle; ST line scalloped, usually distinct at costa and inner angle, faint or absent in the middle hindwing grayish-brown. Larvae - body yellowish-green, sparsely haired, with whitish lateral and subdorsal stripes; only two pairs of mid-abdominal prolegs, plus an apical pair; head small, brownish-green.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Autographa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodlands and edges, shrubby areas.
Geographic Range
Alaskan panhandle plus coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States, south in the Appalachians to North Carolina, and south in the west to California, Arizona, New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from June to August. Larvae in spring and fall (overwinters).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are generalist feeders on various trees and shrubs: willow and poplar are preferred foods, but also feed on alder, birch, blueberry, Buffaloberry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), cherry, elder, raspberry, serviceberry ( Amelanchier spp.), stinging nettle, and Viburnum species.
Life History
One generation per year; overwinters as a larva.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Autographa ampla. 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 Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , KenW , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923
What is Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923?
Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923 (Autographa ampla) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923?
Pogue listed the forewing length as 18-21 mm.
How do you identify Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923?
Adults - forewing gray with dark brown or black apical dash and sharply-defined blackish or dark reddish-brown lower median area; stigma white, diagonal, U-shaped, forming upper border of median patch; small pinkish patch distal to reniform spot, and pinkish tints often present along AM and PM lines; small black patches along costa near AM and PM lines and at anal angle; ST line scalloped, usually distinct at costa and inner angle, faint or absent in the middle hindwing grayish-brown. Larvae - body yellowish-green, sparsely haired, with whitish lateral and subdorsal stripes; only two pairs of mid-abdominal prolegs, plus an apical pair; head small, brownish-green.
Where is Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Woodlands and edges, shrubby areas. |
| Range | Alaskan panhandle plus coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States, south in the Appalachians to North Carolina, and south in the west to California, Arizona, New Mexico. |
What does Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923 eat?
The diet of the Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923 includes Larvae are generalist feeders on various trees and shrubs: willow and poplar are preferred foods, but also feed on alder, birch, blueberry, Buffaloberry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), cherry, elder, raspberry, serviceberry ( Amelanchier spp.), stinging nettle, and Viburnum species..
When is Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923 active?
Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923: seasonal activity - Adults fly from June to August. Larvae in spring and fall (overwinters)..
What is the life cycle of a Large Looper Moth - Hodges#8923?
One generation per year; overwinters as a larva.