Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630
Drasteria divergens
This record describes Drasteria divergens (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brown to blackish in basal and median areas, light brownish-gray in AM and terminal areas; reniform spot with pointed projections and white highlights; AM line has peculiar but distinctive lobed shaped; hindwing yellowish-orange with curving black lines across disk, and two large black spots along upper half of outer margin
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
Geographic Range
California to Colorado to British Columbia. Moth Photographers Group map
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly February through September.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria divergens. 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 Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630
What is Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630?
Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630 (Drasteria divergens) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630?
Forewing length 16-22 mm.
How do you identify Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630?
Adult: forewing dark brown to blackish in basal and median areas, light brownish-gray in AM and terminal areas; reniform spot with pointed projections and white highlights; AM line has peculiar but distinctive lobed shaped; hindwing yellowish-orange with curving black lines across disk, and two large black spots along upper half of outer margin
Where is Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630 found?
Range: California to Colorado to British Columbia. Moth Photographers Group map
When is Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630 active?
Drasteria divergens - Hodges#8630: seasonal activity - Adults fly February through September..