Little Arches - Hodges#8631
Drasteria petricola
This record describes Drasteria petricola (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The smallest of the Arches (Drasteria) moths. In Alberta, it is the only species in the genus with black lines along the veins of the ventral forewing margin. The mountain populations (ssp. athabasca) tend to be slightly larger and have a more yellow-tan cast to the hindwing compared to the prairie populations (ssp. crokeri). Prairie individuals can be strikingly different with their blue-grey and white colouration, and Barnes and Benjamin (1924) thought these differences may be indicative of a separate species; Individuals from the Calgary and Lethbridge region seem to be intermediate between the two forms, but more work is needed to clarify this situation.
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
Sparsely vegetated, open habitats, including alpine and montane meadows and prairie grasslands.
Geographic Range
A western species, found from the Yukon and NWT south to New Mexico in the Rockies, east to Manitoba (Lafontaine & Wood, 1997).
Seasonal Activity
Adult flight peaks between mid May and mid July, earlier at lower elevations.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on Hedysarum (Lafontaine & Wood, 1997). Adults take nectar at flowers, including mint in Utah (Richards, 1939).
Life History
Adults are diurnal and do not come to light. They can be difficult to detect and observe with their rapid flight and contrasting black and white coloration.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria petricola. 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 Little Arches - Hodges#8631 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Arches - Hodges#8631
What is Little Arches - Hodges#8631?
Little Arches - Hodges#8631 (Drasteria petricola) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Little Arches - Hodges#8631?
Forewing length 12-14 mm.
How do you identify Little Arches - Hodges#8631?
The smallest of the Arches (Drasteria) moths. In Alberta, it is the only species in the genus with black lines along the veins of the ventral forewing margin. The mountain populations (ssp. athabasca) tend to be slightly larger and have a more yellow-tan cast to the hindwing compared to the prairie populations (ssp. crokeri). Prairie individuals can be strikingly different with their blue-grey and white colouration, and Barnes and Benjamin (1924) thought these differences may be indicative of a separate species; Individuals from the Calgary and Lethbridge region seem to be intermediate between the two forms, but more work is needed to clarify this situation.
Where is Little Arches - Hodges#8631 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Sparsely vegetated, open habitats, including alpine and montane meadows and prairie grasslands. |
| Range | A western species, found from the Yukon and NWT south to New Mexico in the Rockies, east to Manitoba (Lafontaine & Wood, 1997). |
What does Little Arches - Hodges#8631 eat?
The diet of the Little Arches - Hodges#8631 includes The larvae feed on Hedysarum (Lafontaine & Wood, 1997). Adults take nectar at flowers, including mint in Utah (Richards, 1939)..
When is Little Arches - Hodges#8631 active?
Little Arches - Hodges#8631: seasonal activity - Adult flight peaks between mid May and mid July, earlier at lower elevations..
What is the life cycle of a Little Arches - Hodges#8631?
Adults are diurnal and do not come to light. They can be difficult to detect and observe with their rapid flight and contrasting black and white coloration.