Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011
Brachionycha borealis
This record describes Brachionycha borealis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Asteroscopus borealis Smith, is available online in the print references below. The typical form has medium gray forewings, and the dark form is heavily shaded with black. Rarely collected possibly due to the early spring flight times.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Amphipyrinae
- Tribe
- Psaphidini
- Genus
- Brachionycha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Alberta and Montana, east across the northern United States and southern Canada. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from mid-April to early May. ( 3 ) , ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been reared on Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (lowbush blueberry). Birch is the suspected natural host.
Life History
Larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Brachionycha borealis. 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 Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011
What is Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011?
Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011 (Brachionycha borealis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011?
Forewing length: , ♂ average 21.6 mm. ♀ average 26 mm.
How do you identify Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011?
The original description as Asteroscopus borealis Smith, is available online in the print references below. The typical form has medium gray forewings, and the dark form is heavily shaded with black.
Where is Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011 found?
Range: Alberta and Montana, east across the northern United States and southern Canada. , , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011 eat?
The diet of the Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011 includes Larvae have been reared on Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (lowbush blueberry). Birch is the suspected natural host..
When is Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011 active?
Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from mid-April to early May. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ).
What is the life cycle of a Brachionycha borealis - Hodges#10011?
Larva; adult