Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729
Cutina distincta
This record describes Cutina distincta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pogue & Ferguson revised description is available online in PDF. The original description as Eustrotia distincta Grote, is available online in the print references below. Adult: forewing gray with blackish shading inside AM line, and blackish patches in subapical and anal angle areas; median area white or pale basally, and shaded with gray distally; AM line almost straight; PM line curved, with large hump and small point beyond reniform spot; hindwing brownish-gray or greenish-gray.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Euclidiini
- Genus
- Cutina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Swamps, streamsides, and other cypress wetlands.
Geographic Range
Eastern United States: Florida to Texas, north to Maryland and Kentucky. , , , , ,
Seasonal Activity
Pogue & Ferguson reported the flight from late February to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Pogue & Ferguson reported larval host as Taxodium sp. (cypress).
Life History
Multiple generations per year.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cutina distincta. 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 Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Ron M. , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729
What is Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729?
Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729 (Cutina distincta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729?
Forewing length: ♂ 9.6-11.8 mm. ♀ 10-11.6 mm.
How do you identify Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729?
Pogue & Ferguson revised description is available online in PDF. The original description as Eustrotia distincta Grote, is available online in the print references below. Adult: forewing gray with blackish shading inside AM line, and blackish patches in subapical and anal angle areas; median area white or pale basally, and shaded with gray distally; AM line almost straight; PM line curved, with large hump and small point beyond reniform spot; hindwing brownish-gray or greenish-gray.
Where is Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Swamps, streamsides, and other cypress wetlands. |
| Range | Eastern United States: Florida to Texas, north to Maryland and Kentucky. , , , , |
What does Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729 eat?
The diet of the Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729 includes Pogue & Ferguson reported larval host as Taxodium sp. (cypress)..
When is Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729 active?
Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729: seasonal activity - Pogue & Ferguson reported the flight from late February to September..
What is the life cycle of a Distinguished Cypress Owlet - Hodges#8729?
Multiple generations per year.