Egira cognata - Hodges#10509
Egira cognata
This record describes Egira cognata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing ground color whitish with black markings and gray shading; dark blotches in median area at costa and at inner margin; AM line zigzag, with hollow triangular claviform spot; basal dash lacking; reniform spot contains short black arc but otherwise pale; terminal line scalloped; fringe checkered; hindwing white with dark discal spot and black dashed terminal line
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
wet coniferous forests
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia, east to Utah and Colorado; type specimen collected in Colorado
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in winter and early spring in California (20 Dec to 23 March, based on 10 records)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Oregon White Oak ( Quercus garryana )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Egira cognata. 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 Egira cognata - Hodges#10509 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Egira cognata - Hodges#10509
What is Egira cognata - Hodges#10509?
Egira cognata - Hodges#10509 (Egira cognata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Egira cognata - Hodges#10509?
Adult: forewing ground color whitish with black markings and gray shading; dark blotches in median area at costa and at inner margin; AM line zigzag, with hollow triangular claviform spot; basal dash lacking; reniform spot contains short black arc but otherwise pale; terminal line scalloped; fringe checkered; hindwing white with dark discal spot and black dashed terminal line
Where is Egira cognata - Hodges#10509 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wet coniferous forests |
| Range | California to British Columbia, east to Utah and Colorado; type specimen collected in Colorado |
What does Egira cognata - Hodges#10509 eat?
The diet of the Egira cognata - Hodges#10509 includes larvae feed on leaves of Oregon White Oak ( Quercus garryana ).
When is Egira cognata - Hodges#10509 active?
Egira cognata - Hodges#10509: seasonal activity - adults fly in winter and early spring in California (20 Dec to 23 March, based on 10 records).