Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196
Cucullia lilacina
This record describes Cucullia lilacina (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The forewing has a bright violet or lilac hue and a distinct brown patch along the costa from the reniform spot to the outer margin. ( 3 )
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
Habitat
Open oak/pine habitats. ( 3 )
Geographic Range
Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. , Mexico to Costa Rica.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from July to September. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: There is unpublished record of larvae reared on Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray (spreading fleabane). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cucullia lilacina. 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 lilacina - Hodges#10196 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196
What is Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196?
Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196 (Cucullia lilacina) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196?
Powell & Opler listed the forewing length as 18-20 mm.
How do you identify Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196?
The forewing has a bright violet or lilac hue and a distinct brown patch along the costa from the reniform spot to the outer margin. ( 3 )
Where is Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open oak/pine habitats. ( 3 ) |
| Range | Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas. , Mexico to Costa Rica. |
What does Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196 eat?
The diet of the Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196 includes There is unpublished record of larvae reared on Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray (spreading fleabane). ( 3 ).
When is Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196 active?
Cucullia lilacina - Hodges#10196: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from July to September. ( 4 ).