Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993
Brachylomia populi
This record describes Brachylomia populi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Brachylomia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Inland mountains of western North America, from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, south through Colorado and Utah into Arizona. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of cottonwoods and aspens, which are in the genus Populus, with a few reports on other species, including oaks (Quercus sp.)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: populi is Latin for "of Populus", referring to the cottonwood (genus Populus) which was the first reported hostplant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Brachylomia populi. 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 Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993
How big is Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993?
Forewing 13-15 mm.
Where is Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993 found?
Range: Inland mountains of western North America, from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, south through Colorado and Utah into Arizona. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993 eat?
The diet of the Brachylomia populi - Hodges#9993 includes Larvae feed on leaves of cottonwoods and aspens, which are in the genus Populus, with a few reports on other species, including oaks (Quercus sp.).