The Laugher - Hodges#9189
Charadra deridens
This record describes Charadra deridens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale gray, heavily shaded with darker gray; antemedial (AM) line black, sometimes clearly edged in white; postmedial (PM) line black, scalloped, and edged in white; AM and PM lines connected about halfway down the wing by black line that crosses median; this line partly surrounds a pale gray area bordering the dark-centered orbicular spot, giving the impression of an eye; reniform spot outlined in white, with a line of black filling; subterminal line jagged and shaded in black along inner edge; brownish-gray shading between subterminal (ST) line and black-dashed terminal line; hindwing light grayish-brown, slightly darker toward outer margin [adapted from description by Lynn Scott]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pantheinae
- Genus
- Charadra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
United States except southwestern states, plus southern Canada but apparently absent from Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August in the north; extended season in Florida
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed mostly on leaves of beech; other hostplants include birch, elm, maple, oak
Life History
In this series of images, you can see the face changing from one of mostly yellow to more and more black and finally the classic black face with just small yellow triangles left. Life Cycle images: Larva; larva; cocoon; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: DERIDENS: from the Latin "deridere" (to deride, mock, laugh at) - referring to the pattern on the forewings, which looks somewhat like a laughing face when the wings are held together at rest, and is the origin of the common name
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Charadra deridens. 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 The Laugher - Hodges#9189 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About The Laugher - Hodges#9189
What is The Laugher - Hodges#9189?
The Laugher - Hodges#9189 (Charadra deridens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is The Laugher - Hodges#9189?
wingspan 38-48 mm
How do you identify The Laugher - Hodges#9189?
Adult: forewing pale gray, heavily shaded with darker gray; antemedial (AM) line black, sometimes clearly edged in white; postmedial (PM) line black, scalloped, and edged in white; AM and PM lines connected about halfway down the wing by black line that crosses median; this line partly surrounds a pale gray area bordering the dark-centered orbicular spot, giving the impression of an eye; reniform spot outlined in white, with a line of black filling; subterminal line jagged and shaded in black along inner edge; brownish-gray shading between subterminal (ST) line and black-dashed terminal line; hindwing light grayish-brown, slightly darker toward outer margin [adapted from description by Lynn Scott]
Where is The Laugher - Hodges#9189 found?
Range: United States except southwestern states, plus southern Canada but apparently absent from Alberta
What does The Laugher - Hodges#9189 eat?
The diet of the The Laugher - Hodges#9189 includes larvae feed mostly on leaves of beech; other hostplants include birch, elm, maple, oak.
When is The Laugher - Hodges#9189 active?
The Laugher - Hodges#9189: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August in the north; extended season in Florida.
What is the life cycle of a The Laugher - Hodges#9189?
In this series of images, you can see the face changing from one of mostly yellow to more and more black and finally the classic black face with just small yellow triangles left. Life Cycle images: Larva; larva; cocoon; adult