Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696
Condica vecors
This record describes Condica vecors (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mottled dark brown and black; no strong pattern; PM and terminal lines represented by whitish dots; claviform spot black; lower half of reniform spot white; pale brown spot in middle of dark brown subterminal area; hindwing grayish-brown with conspicuous whitish fringe Genitalia: ♀ ♂ common in southern part of range
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
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Florida, west to Arizona, north to Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August in the north; April to October in the south
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval food plants are not well known, but include Eupatorium, according to David Wagner; larvae have been collected on lettuce in Florida
Life History
two generations per year Larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Condica vecors. 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 Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , anitagould , Ethan Kistler , Robert Lord Zimlich , v belov , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696
What is Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696?
Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696 (Condica vecors) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696?
wingspan 29-38 mm
How do you identify Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696?
Adult: forewing mottled dark brown and black; no strong pattern; PM and terminal lines represented by whitish dots; claviform spot black; lower half of reniform spot white; pale brown spot in middle of dark brown subterminal area; hindwing grayish-brown with conspicuous whitish fringe Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696 found?
Range: Newfoundland to Florida, west to Arizona, north to Ontario
What does Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696 eat?
The diet of the Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696 includes larval food plants are not well known, but include Eupatorium, according to David Wagner; larvae have been collected on lettuce in Florida.
When is Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696 active?
Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August in the north; April to October in the south.
What is the life cycle of a Dusky Groundling Moth - Hodges#9696?
two generations per year Larva; adult