Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622
Drasteria inepta
This record describes Drasteria inepta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: dull, drab, and unremarkable compared to bright colors and bold patterns of other Drasteria species; forewing variably yellowish-gray to orangish-brown with dark C-shaped reniform spot surrounded by pale spots; AM, PM, and terminal lines scalloped, indistinct; subterminal line irregular, meandering; hindwing pale yellowish basally, dark gray distally, with dark veins and discal lunule; fringe whitish the type specimen was collected in Colorado adults rest on the ground in dry rocky areas and are active at night
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
Arizona to western Texas, north to Colorado and Utah, Wyoming
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from March to October in western Texas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria inepta. 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 Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622
What is Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622?
Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622 (Drasteria inepta) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622?
wingspan about 35-43 mm, based on several Internet photos forewing length 16 - 20mm
How do you identify Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622?
Adult: dull, drab, and unremarkable compared to bright colors and bold patterns of other Drasteria species; forewing variably yellowish-gray to orangish-brown with dark C-shaped reniform spot surrounded by pale spots; AM, PM, and terminal lines scalloped, indistinct; subterminal line irregular, meandering; hindwing pale yellowish basally, dark gray distally, with dark veins and discal lunule; fringe whitish
Where is Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622 found?
Range: Arizona to western Texas, north to Colorado and Utah, Wyoming
When is Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622 active?
Inept Drasteria - Hodges#8622: seasonal activity - adults fly from March to October in western Texas.