Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620
Drasteria ingeniculata
This record describes Drasteria ingeniculata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: basal area and distal half of forewing dark blackish-gray; median area and PM patch pale gray with dark speckling; AM line a smooth convex arc; hindwing orangish-yellow with black terminal and PM bands; large black discal spot not connected to PM 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
sandy areas
Geographic Range
southcentral United States: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in spring and again in late summer
Diet and Behavior
Life History
at least two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria ingeniculata. 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 Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620
What is Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620?
Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620 (Drasteria ingeniculata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620?
wingspan about 35 mm
How do you identify Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620?
Adult: basal area and distal half of forewing dark blackish-gray; median area and PM patch pale gray with dark speckling; AM line a smooth convex arc; hindwing orangish-yellow with black terminal and PM bands; large black discal spot not connected to PM band
Where is Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sandy areas |
| Range | southcentral United States: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska |
When is Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620 active?
Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620: seasonal activity - adults fly in spring and again in late summer.
What is the life cycle of a Drasteria ingeniculata - Hodges#8620?
at least two generations per year