Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1
Cucullia eccissica
This record describes Cucullia eccissica (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Detailed description can be found in MONA Fascicle 26-1 (free PDF available) and at Robert Poole's Nearctica, both of which are linked in references and citations below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cuculliinae
- Genus
- Cucullia (Hooded Owlets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southern California and southern and western Arizona
Seasonal Activity
April to May; August to September
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cucullia eccissica. 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 Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1
What is Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1?
Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1 (Cucullia eccissica) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1?
forewing length = ~20.81 mm; standard deviation = 1.11 mm
How do you identify Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1?
Detailed description can be found in MONA Fascicle 26-1 (free PDF available) and at Robert Poole's Nearctica, both of which are linked in references and citations below.
Where is Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1 found?
Range: southern California and southern and western Arizona
When is Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1 active?
Cucullia eccissica - Hodges#10192.1: seasonal activity - April to May; August to September.