Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633
Callopistria cordata
This record describes Callopistria cordata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing orange or reddish-brown, mottled with yellow, and having two large silvery-white spots near the middle or the wing, plus a line of several smaller spots in the subterminal area; small yellowish patch at apex hindwing pale grayish with yellowish fringe along outer edge
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Eriopinae
- Genus
- Callopistria
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 June to August, earlier (March) in southern United States
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on ferns. Most commonly Bracken Fern. ( Moths of North Carolina )
Life History
Larva; larva; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CORDATA: "cordate" means heart-shaped; perhaps a reference to the rounded triangular shapes on the forewing
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Callopistria cordata. 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 Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633
What is Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633?
Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633 (Callopistria cordata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633?
Wingspan 25-28 mm
How do you identify Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633?
forewing orange or reddish-brown, mottled with yellow, and having two large silvery-white spots near the middle or the wing, plus a line of several smaller spots in the subterminal area; small yellowish patch at apex hindwing pale grayish with yellowish fringe along outer edge
Where is Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633 found?
Range: Eastern North America
What does Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633 eat?
The diet of the Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633 includes Larvae feed on ferns. Most commonly Bracken Fern. ( Moths of North Carolina ).
When is Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633 active?
Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August, earlier (March) in southern United States.
What is the life cycle of a Silver-spotted Fern Moth - Hodges#9633?
Larva; larva; adult