Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916
Autographa flagellum
This record describes Autographa flagellum (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Geographic Range
Across southern Canada south in the east to Maine and Wisconsin. Disjunct populations in Colorado and Pennsylvania.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is June through August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Tietz (1972) reported the larvae feed on Helianthus (sunflower) and Liatris species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Autographa flagellum. 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 Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916
How big is Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916?
Wingspan 35-40 mm.
Where is Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916 found?
Range: Across southern Canada south in the east to Maine and Wisconsin. Disjunct populations in Colorado and Pennsylvania.
What does Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916 eat?
The diet of the Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916 includes Tietz (1972) reported the larvae feed on Helianthus (sunflower) and Liatris species..
When is Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916 active?
Autographa flagellum - Hodges#8916: seasonal activity - The main flight period is June through August..