Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621
Drasteria scrupulosa
This record describes Drasteria scrupulosa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
California to Colorado and Oregon. , , Drasteria scrupulosa is most common in the southwestern United States. Holotype from Kern County, California.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host plant is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Drasteria scrupulosa. 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 scrupulosa - Hodges#8621 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621
How big is Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621?
Forewing length 18-21 mm.
Where is Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621 found?
Range: California to Colorado and Oregon. , , Drasteria scrupulosa is most common in the southwestern United States. Holotype from Kern County, California.
What does Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621 eat?
The diet of the Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621 includes The larval host plant is unknown..
When is Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621 active?
Drasteria scrupulosa - Hodges#8621: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be July and August..