Condica mersa - Hodges#9694
Condica mersa
This record describes Condica mersa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This species can be identified by its streaky dark brown-gray forewing with pale filling of the lower reniform spot ( 3 ) . This species is apparently quite rare in collections ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Condicinae
- Tribe
- Condicini
- Genus
- Condica
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"This species is moderately common on dry, open sagebrush steppe and in juniper woodlands at low to middle elevations east of the Cascades" ( 3 ) .
Geographic Range
Records from California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) .
Seasonal Activity
California records from March to August; May to August in other states ( 4 ) .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown, but rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus spp.) is suspected based upon closely related species" ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) .
Life History
Unknown ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Condica mersa. 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 Condica mersa - Hodges#9694 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Condica mersa - Hodges#9694
What is Condica mersa - Hodges#9694?
Condica mersa - Hodges#9694 (Condica mersa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Condica mersa - Hodges#9694?
FWL: 17 to 18 mm ( 3 ) .
How do you identify Condica mersa - Hodges#9694?
This species can be identified by its streaky dark brown-gray forewing with pale filling of the lower reniform spot ( 3 ) .
Where is Condica mersa - Hodges#9694 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species is moderately common on dry, open sagebrush steppe and in juniper woodlands at low to middle elevations east of the Cascades ( 3 ) . |
| Range | Records from California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) . |
What does Condica mersa - Hodges#9694 eat?
The diet of the Condica mersa - Hodges#9694 includes Unknown, but rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus spp.) is suspected based upon closely related species ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) ..
When is Condica mersa - Hodges#9694 active?
Condica mersa - Hodges#9694: seasonal activity - California records from March to August; May to August in other states ( 4 ) ..
What is the life cycle of a Condica mersa - Hodges#9694?
Unknown ( 3 ) , ( 5 ) .