Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997
Cerastis fishii
This record describes Cerastis fishii (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing reddish-brown with dark AM and PM lines, and pale subterminal line; reniform and orbicular spots contain contrasting black-and-white markings; prominent black subapical spot along costa just inside subterminal line; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe orangish; hindwing pale gray basally, shading to darker gray distally, with faint discal spot and pale pinkish fringe; head and thorax slightly darker than forewing; antennae pectinate in male, filiform in female
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Cerastis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Georgia, west to Kansas, Minnesota, and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to late May or early June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on flowers and leaves of blueberry ( Vaccinium spp.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cerastis fishii. 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 Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997
What is Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997?
Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997 (Cerastis fishii) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997?
forewing length 15-18 mm; wingspan about 30-36 mm
How do you identify Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997?
Adult: forewing reddish-brown with dark AM and PM lines, and pale subterminal line; reniform and orbicular spots contain contrasting black-and-white markings; prominent black subapical spot along costa just inside subterminal line; terminal line a series of black dashes; fringe orangish; hindwing pale gray basally, shading to darker gray distally, with faint discal spot and pale pinkish fringe; head and thorax slightly darker than forewing; antennae pectinate in male, filiform in female
Where is Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997 found?
Range: Newfoundland to Georgia, west to Kansas, Minnesota, and Ontario
What does Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997 eat?
The diet of the Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997 includes larvae feed on flowers and leaves of blueberry ( Vaccinium spp.).
When is Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997 active?
Fish's Dart - Hodges#10997: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to late May or early June.