Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635
Drasteria perplexa
This record describes Drasteria perplexa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: basal half of forewing uniformly grayish-brown with indistinct AM line; terminal area light brownish-gray; PM patch pale, surrounded by black shading; hindwing orange or orangish-yellow with black margin and PM band; black discal crescent reduced and usually 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
dry short-grass prairie and desert
Geographic Range
California to Arizona and Colorado, north to Alberta and Saskatchewan
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in May and June
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria perplexa. 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 Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635
What is Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635?
Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635 (Drasteria perplexa) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635?
wingspan 29-33 mm, based on two photos of Internet specimens
How do you identify Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635?
Adult: basal half of forewing uniformly grayish-brown with indistinct AM line; terminal area light brownish-gray; PM patch pale, surrounded by black shading; hindwing orange or orangish-yellow with black margin and PM band; black discal crescent reduced and usually not connected to PM band
Where is Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry short-grass prairie and desert |
| Range | California to Arizona and Colorado, north to Alberta and Saskatchewan |
When is Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635 active?
Perplexed Arches - Hodges#8635: seasonal activity - adults fly in May and June.