LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170

Bagisara pacifica

This record describes Bagisara pacifica (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170 - Bagisara pacifica
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Schaus (1911) original description is online in print references. 48 *The subterminal line curved at costa and straight to tornus.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Family
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily
Bagisarinae
Genus
Bagisara

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Southern Texas to Central America. Holotype from Avangarez, Costa Rica.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bagisara pacifica. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170 (2)

Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

Frequently Asked Questions About Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170

What is Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170?

Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170 (Bagisara pacifica) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170?

Schaus (1911) listed a wingspan of 31 mm.

How do you identify Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170?

Schaus (1911) original description is online in print references. 48 *The subterminal line curved at costa and straight to tornus.

Where is Bagisara pacifica - Hodges#9170 found?

Range: Southern Texas to Central America. Holotype from Avangarez, Costa Rica.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.