Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517
Egira alternans
This record describes Egira alternans (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW pale gray, shaded reddish-brown in basal and median areas. Often has thick, black bar in inner median area. Large, whitish orbicular spot is fused to pale band that extends to the inner margin. Reddish-brown reniform spot is outlined with white. Larva : Orange-brown head, usually with darker reticulations and coronal bars than Orthosia revicta .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Orthosiini
- Genus
- Egira
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Abounds in the coastal woodland of North Carolina and New Jersey, especially those with an abundance of heaths.
Seasonal Activity
Flight season is brief, lasting just three weeks in most years.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adult : Visit flowers, Chickasaw Plum is a favorite in New Jersey. They do not come to bait Larva : Quercus nigra (Water Oak) a
Life History
Pupa overwinter in the ground
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Common and scientific names derived from the alternate light and dark bands around the adult’s abdomen.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Egira alternans. 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 Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , JohnMaxwell22 , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517
What is Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517?
Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517 (Egira alternans) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517?
TL ≈ 18-21mm
How do you identify Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517?
Adult : FW pale gray, shaded reddish-brown in basal and median areas. Often has thick, black bar in inner median area. Large, whitish orbicular spot is fused to pale band that extends to the inner margin. Reddish-brown reniform spot is outlined with white. Larva : Orange-brown head, usually with darker reticulations and coronal bars than Orthosia revicta .
Where is Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517 found?
Habitat: Abounds in the coastal woodland of North Carolina and New Jersey, especially those with an abundance of heaths.
What does Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517 eat?
The diet of the Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517 includes Adult : Visit flowers, Chickasaw Plum is a favorite in New Jersey. They do not come to bait Larva : Quercus nigra (Water Oak) a.
When is Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517 active?
Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517: seasonal activity - Flight season is brief, lasting just three weeks in most years..
What is the life cycle of a Alternate Woodling - Hodges#10517?
Pupa overwinter in the ground