Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629
Drasteria fumosa
This record describes Drasteria fumosa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing basal and PM areas dark gray to blackish; PM line highly convoluted, merging with outer edge of large reniform spot, as in other Drasteria species; subterminal area lighter gray; median area variably light grayish-brown to brownish-orange; top of thorax light brownish-gray with two dark subdorsal lines behind collar; hindwing whitish to pale gray on basal two-thirds, contrasting sharply with dark gray distal third.
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
Oak woodlands.
Geographic Range
California east to Utah and Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in summer.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: FUMOSA: from the Latin "fumosus" (smoky); probably refers to the color of the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Smoky Arches [the name "Arches" is used for conformity with some other species in the genus]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria fumosa. 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 Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629
What is Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629?
Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629 (Drasteria fumosa) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629?
Adult: forewing basal and PM areas dark gray to blackish; PM line highly convoluted, merging with outer edge of large reniform spot, as in other Drasteria species; subterminal area lighter gray; median area variably light grayish-brown to brownish-orange; top of thorax light brownish-gray with two dark subdorsal lines behind collar; hindwing whitish to pale gray on basal two-thirds, contrasting sharply with dark gray distal third.
Where is Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Oak woodlands. |
| Range | California east to Utah and Texas. |
When is Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629 active?
Smoky Arches - Hodges#8629: seasonal activity - Adults fly in summer..