White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664
Balsa labecula
This record describes Balsa labecula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Balsinae
- Genus
- Balsa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Forests, swamps, barrens, and woodlands
Geographic Range
eastern North America
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Apple, chokeberry (Aronia), hawthorn, and serviceberry.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Balsa labecula. 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 White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664
What is White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664?
White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664 (Balsa labecula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664?
wingspan about 25-30 mm
How do you identify White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forests, swamps, barrens, and woodlands |
| Range | eastern North America |
What does White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664 eat?
The diet of the White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664 includes Apple, chokeberry (Aronia), hawthorn, and serviceberry..
When is White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664 active?
White-blotched Balsa - Hodges#9664: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.