Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663
Balsa tristrigella
This record describes Balsa tristrigella (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing light gray, shading to brownish in distal third; several thin black lines run longitudinally along wing, becoming thicker in distal half; Antemedial (AM) line short, distinct only near the costa; Postmedial (PM) line double, running obliquely part-way to the outer margin, the more basal of these lines is thicker and straighter than the more distal line hindwing pale yellowish-gray with thin dark terminal line, sometimes faint
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
Geographic Range
eastern North America
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on hawthorn ( Crataegus spp.)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: TRISTRIGELLA: from "tri" (three) + "striga" (a furrow, channel, or groove) - a reference to the AM and double PM lines, which together form three short lines along the costa
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Balsa tristrigella. 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 Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , tom murray , Jason D. Roberts , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663
What is Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663?
Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663 (Balsa tristrigella) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663?
wingspan about 25-30 mm
How do you identify Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663?
forewing light gray, shading to brownish in distal third; several thin black lines run longitudinally along wing, becoming thicker in distal half; Antemedial (AM) line short, distinct only near the costa; Postmedial (PM) line double, running obliquely part-way to the outer margin, the more basal of these lines is thicker and straighter than the more distal line hindwing pale yellowish-gray with thin dark terminal line, sometimes faint
Where is Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663 found?
Range: eastern North America
What does Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663 eat?
The diet of the Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663 includes larvae feed on hawthorn ( Crataegus spp.).
When is Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663 active?
Three-lined Balsa - Hodges#9663: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.