Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1
Copablepharon fuscum
This record describes Copablepharon fuscum (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing olive green to darker olive brown with contrasting yellow streaks in the cell, the fold, and as a thin line along the cubital vein; pale streak thru cell to ST area has black shading on both sides; fringe is similar to FW color or slightly paler. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is dark fuscous, sometimes slightly paler toward wing base; fringe is pale fuscous with a dark fuscous medial line. Discovered in 1995; designated as an Endangered species in Canada in 2003. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Copablepharon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Coastal dunes.
Geographic Range
British Columbia and Washington.
Seasonal Activity
mid May to late July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Sand-verbena ( Abronia latifolia )
Life History
Caterpillars hatch in July. They feed at night, burying themselves in the sand during the day and to overwinter. In May, they pupate in fragile cocoons of stuck-together sand particles. Adults emerge in late June.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Authors: Troubridge & Crabo, 1996
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Copablepharon fuscum. 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 Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1
What is Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1?
Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 (Copablepharon fuscum) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1?
FWL = 15-18 mm
How do you identify Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing olive green to darker olive brown with contrasting yellow streaks in the cell, the fold, and as a thin line along the cubital vein; pale streak thru cell to ST area has black shading on both sides; fringe is similar to FW color or slightly paler. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is dark fuscous, sometimes slightly paler toward wing base; fringe is pale fuscous with a dark fuscous medial line. |
Where is Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal dunes. |
| Range | British Columbia and Washington. |
What does Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 eat?
The diet of the Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 includes Sand-verbena ( Abronia latifolia ).
When is Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1 active?
Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1: seasonal activity - mid May to late July.
What is the life cycle of a Sand-verbena Moth - Hodges#10690.1?
Caterpillars hatch in July. They feed at night, burying themselves in the sand during the day and to overwinter. In May, they pupate in fragile cocoons of stuck-together sand particles. Adults emerge in late June.