Northern Arches - Hodges#8632
Drasteria hudsonica
This record describes Drasteria hudsonica (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mottled shades of gray with pale whitish-gray median and subterminal areas; median area often chestnut brown; AM and PM lines variably black to light gray; AM line runs slightly outwardly oblique to the inner margin (rather than curving back toward the base, as in D. adumbrata ); prairie populations dimorphic, with females having a relatively uniform unbanded light gray forewing; hindwing variably pale creamy white to yellow with wavy black medial and terminal bands; black discal crescent joined to medial band
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
in or near dry open coniferous woods; adults are active in the day but also come to light
Geographic Range
Alaska and Yukon to California, east to New Mexico and Manitoba
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in June in the north (Alberta); earlier southward
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Shepherdia canadensis (Russet Buffaloberry) * usda.gov - plant information
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria hudsonica. 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 Northern Arches - Hodges#8632 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Arches - Hodges#8632
What is Northern Arches - Hodges#8632?
Northern Arches - Hodges#8632 (Drasteria hudsonica) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Northern Arches - Hodges#8632?
wingspan 35-36 mm, based on photos by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Northern Arches - Hodges#8632?
Adult: forewing mottled shades of gray with pale whitish-gray median and subterminal areas; median area often chestnut brown; AM and PM lines variably black to light gray; AM line runs slightly outwardly oblique to the inner margin (rather than curving back toward the base, as in D. adumbrata ); prairie populations dimorphic, with females having a relatively uniform unbanded light gray forewing; hindwing variably pale creamy white to yellow with wavy black medial and terminal bands; black discal crescent joined to medial band
Where is Northern Arches - Hodges#8632 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | in or near dry open coniferous woods; adults are active in the day but also come to light |
| Range | Alaska and Yukon to California, east to New Mexico and Manitoba |
What does Northern Arches - Hodges#8632 eat?
The diet of the Northern Arches - Hodges#8632 includes larvae feed on leaves of Shepherdia canadensis (Russet Buffaloberry) * usda.gov - plant information.
When is Northern Arches - Hodges#8632 active?
Northern Arches - Hodges#8632: seasonal activity - adults fly in June in the north (Alberta); earlier southward.