Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636
Drasteria adumbrata
This record describes Drasteria adumbrata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mottled light and dark brown; basal area, median band, reniform spot, and subterminal area paler; AM line curves toward base near inner margin; hindwing creamy yellow to orange with black marginal and PM bands, the latter joined to black discal crescent. subspecies D. a. saxea has a slower flight and is easier to approach than the extremely wary alleni ; flushed individuals often fly a short distance before alighting on the ground
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Melipotini
- Genus
- Drasteria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
dry montane woodlands and sandy open woods; a rapid-flying, day-active species; subspecies saxea regularly comes to light in southern BC, whereas subspecies alleni is very rarely attracted to light [Handfield 1999]
Geographic Range
coast to coast in southern Canada, south in the west to California and Colorado, south in the east to New England and Michigan. Rare in New Brunswick, except several males and females at light between June 7-22 1999 at the Acadia Research Forest in Sunbury County.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in summer
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Lowbush Blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium ) in Quebec [Handfield 1999] and probably other Vaccinium species in the west; also recorded on Bearberry ( Arctostaphylos uva-ursi )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: ADUMBRATA: from the Latin "ad" (to, toward, nearness to) + "umbra" (shade, shadow); probably refers to the dark forewing, and is the origin of the common name Shadowy Arches
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria adumbrata. 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 Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636
What is Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636?
Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636 (Drasteria adumbrata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636?
Wingspan about 32 mm.
How do you identify Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636?
Adult: forewing mottled light and dark brown; basal area, median band, reniform spot, and subterminal area paler; AM line curves toward base near inner margin; hindwing creamy yellow to orange with black marginal and PM bands, the latter joined to black discal crescent.
Where is Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry montane woodlands and sandy open woods; a rapid-flying, day-active species; subspecies saxea regularly comes to light in southern BC, whereas subspecies alleni is very rarely attracted to light [Handfield 1999] |
| Range | coast to coast in southern Canada, south in the west to California and Colorado, south in the east to New England and Michigan. Rare in New Brunswick, except several males and females at light between June 7-22 1999 at the Acadia Research Forest in Sunbury County. |
What does Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636 eat?
The diet of the Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636 includes larvae feed on Lowbush Blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifolium ) in Quebec [Handfield 1999] and probably other Vaccinium species in the west; also recorded on Bearberry ( Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ).
When is Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636 active?
Shadowy Arches - Hodges#8636: seasonal activity - adults fly in summer.