Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641
Drasteria grandirena
This record describes Drasteria grandirena (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Ontario to Nova Scotia and south to at least Georgia west to at least Arkansas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly March to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Hamamelis virginiana (American witchhazel) usda.gov - plant information
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria grandirena. 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 Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641
How big is Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641?
wingspan about 35 mm
Where is Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641 found?
Range: Ontario to Nova Scotia and south to at least Georgia west to at least Arkansas
What does Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641 eat?
The diet of the Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641 includes larvae feed on Hamamelis virginiana (American witchhazel) usda.gov - plant information.
When is Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641 active?
Figure-seven Moth - Hodges#8641: seasonal activity - adults fly March to August.