Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021
Copivaleria grotei
This record describes Copivaleria grotei (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Overall mottled dark gray with contrasting whitish orbicular and reniform spots and a pale arrowhead patch at the junction of the (folded) forewings near anal angle. Many specimens show ochre to gold or olive-brown highlights scattered over much of forewings. Distal portion of forewings slightly paler but not obviously whitish as in Figure-eight Sallow (see below). Thorax pale centered with black or black-margined tegulae (shoulders). The original description as Valeria grotei Morrison, is available online at the link in print preferences below. Specimen identified by DNA analysis:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Amphipyrinae
- Tribe
- Psaphidini
- Genus
- Copivaleria (Sallow Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Found throughout most of the United States from the Rocky Mountains eastward. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Primary flight period for adults is March through May, with smaller numbers as early as February, in June, and in September-October. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is ash ( Fraxinus sp.)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Copivaleria grotei honors US lepidopterist Augustus Radcliffe Grote (1841-1903) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Copivaleria grotei. 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 Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Chuck Sexton , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021
What is Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021?
Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021 (Copivaleria grotei) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 35-40 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing 16-18 mm (7 measured images). |
How do you identify Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021?
Overall mottled dark gray with contrasting whitish orbicular and reniform spots and a pale arrowhead patch at the junction of the (folded) forewings near anal angle. Many specimens show ochre to gold or olive-brown highlights scattered over much of forewings. Distal portion of forewings slightly paler but not obviously whitish as in Figure-eight Sallow (see below). Thorax pale centered with black or black-margined tegulae (shoulders). The original description as Valeria grotei Morrison, is available online at the link in print preferences below. Specimen identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021 found?
Range: Found throughout most of the United States from the Rocky Mountains eastward. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
What does Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021 eat?
The diet of the Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021 includes Larval host is ash ( Fraxinus sp.).
When is Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021 active?
Grote's Sallow - Hodges#10021: seasonal activity - Primary flight period for adults is March through May, with smaller numbers as early as February, in June, and in September-October. ( 5 ).