Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201
Cucullia montanae
This record describes Cucullia montanae (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dull grayish-brown with central and basal areas paler than leading and trailing edges; reniform and orbicular spots large, filled with light brown scales and partially outlined with black; inner margin (trailing edge of forewing) narrowly bordered with black scales, widening toward outer margin and forming small curved crescent mark before reaching anal angle; dark brownish shading along costa and heavy black lines along inner margin are most conspicuous features; hindwing dull white with broad sooty brown marginal band; veins finely lined with brown scales [adapted from description at U. of Alberta] Larva: body with 6 black continuous lines bordering 5 lateral stripes that are green, yellow, or white; head greenish-white with numerous large black freckles (see detailed description and closeup photos in PDF doc )
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
grasslands and foothills
Geographic Range
widespread in northern Great Plains and western mountains: British Columbia and Washington east to Manitoba and Minnesota, south through mountains to Arizona and western Texas; absent from Oregon and California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in July and August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Asteraceae, including Puget Sound Gumweed ( Grindelia integrifolia ) and rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus spp.)
Life History
one generation per year; pupation occurs underground in a tough cocoon
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cucullia montanae. 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 Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Harsi S. Parker , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201
What is Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201?
Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201 (Cucullia montanae) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201?
wingspan 44-50 mm
How do you identify Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201?
Adult: forewing dull grayish-brown with central and basal areas paler than leading and trailing edges; reniform and orbicular spots large, filled with light brown scales and partially outlined with black; inner margin (trailing edge of forewing) narrowly bordered with black scales, widening toward outer margin and forming small curved crescent mark before reaching anal angle; dark brownish shading along costa and heavy black lines along inner margin are most conspicuous features; hindwing dull white with broad sooty brown marginal band; veins finely lined with brown scales [adapted from description at U. of Alberta] Larva: body with 6 black continuous lines bordering 5 lateral stripes that are green, yellow, or white; head greenish-white with numerous large black freckles (see detailed description and closeup photos in PDF doc )
Where is Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | grasslands and foothills |
| Range | widespread in northern Great Plains and western mountains: British Columbia and Washington east to Manitoba and Minnesota, south through mountains to Arizona and western Texas; absent from Oregon and California |
What does Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201 eat?
The diet of the Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201 includes Larvae feed on Asteraceae, including Puget Sound Gumweed ( Grindelia integrifolia ) and rabbitbrush ( Chrysothamnus spp.).
When is Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201 active?
Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201: seasonal activity - adults fly in July and August.
What is the life cycle of a Mountain Hooded Owlet - Hodges#10201?
one generation per year; pupation occurs underground in a tough cocoon