Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972
Baileya levitans
This record describes Baileya levitans (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray with grayish-white median area, small basal patch, and least distinct apical patch of any Baileya species; reniform spot with black outline and center forming an eyespot; AM and PM lines double; PM line with smoothly rounded hump near inner margin; AM line more distinct than in other species, and with pointed tooth midway, projecting toward median area [adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Nolidae (Nolid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Risobinae
- Genus
- Baileya
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Arkansas and Illinois, north to Michigan and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval foodplants are unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Baileya levitans. 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 Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Ethan Kistler , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972
What is Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972?
Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972 (Baileya levitans) is a species in the family Nolidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972?
wingspan 25-34 mm
How do you identify Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972?
Adult: forewing light gray with grayish-white median area, small basal patch, and least distinct apical patch of any Baileya species; reniform spot with black outline and center forming an eyespot; AM and PM lines double; PM line with smoothly rounded hump near inner margin; AM line more distinct than in other species, and with pointed tooth midway, projecting toward median area [adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Where is Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Arkansas and Illinois, north to Michigan and Ontario |
What does Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972 eat?
The diet of the Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972 includes larval foodplants are unknown.
When is Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972 active?
Pale Baileya - Hodges#8972: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to August.