Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618
Drasteria graphica
This record describes Drasteria graphica (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing may be uniformly gray or light and dark gray with black AM and PM lines; AM line deeply bow-shaped; diffuse brown medial line may be present; PM line highly convoluted, merges with outer edge of reniform spot; ST line almost straight and has several pale dots; terminal line black, wavy hindwing yellow or orange with 3 black wavy bands
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
sand dunes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts or shores of the Great Lakes; adults fly during the day
Geographic Range
coastal dunes from Maine to Florida, and west to Mississippi; also occurs along shores of Great Lakes in Michigan and Wisconsin, plus a 1996 record from Minnesota at Wyoming Dunes Wildlife Management Area, and an old record from Ohio
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: only known food plant is Wooly Beach Heather ( Hudsonia tomentosa ), according to Dale Schweitzer; records for blueberry, cited in Covell's Guide (1984) actually refer to a sibling species, Drasteria occulta
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria graphica. 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 Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618
What is Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618?
Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618 (Drasteria graphica) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618?
wingspan 30-35 mm
How do you identify Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618?
forewing may be uniformly gray or light and dark gray with black AM and PM lines; AM line deeply bow-shaped; diffuse brown medial line may be present; PM line highly convoluted, merges with outer edge of reniform spot; ST line almost straight and has several pale dots; terminal line black, wavy hindwing yellow or orange with 3 black wavy bands
Where is Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sand dunes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts or shores of the Great Lakes; adults fly during the day |
| Range | coastal dunes from Maine to Florida, and west to Mississippi; also occurs along shores of Great Lakes in Michigan and Wisconsin, plus a 1996 record from Minnesota at Wyoming Dunes Wildlife Management Area, and an old record from Ohio |
What does Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618 eat?
The diet of the Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618 includes only known food plant is Wooly Beach Heather ( Hudsonia tomentosa ), according to Dale Schweitzer; records for blueberry, cited in Covell's Guide (1984) actually refer to a sibling species, Drasteria occulta.
When is Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618 active?
Graphic Moth - Hodges#8618: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.