Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679
Elaphria chalcedonia
This record describes Elaphria chalcedonia (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing color a mixture of white, dark gray/blackish, and dull yellow or orangish; basal and upper median areas dull yellowish to orangish; white edging along PM line varies from broad and conspicuous to thin and patchy; dark gray to blackish shading inside AM line next to inner margin, in lower median area, and in subterminal area except for pale yellowish apical patch; reniform spot fairly small and more-or-less flattened/straight; orbicular spot small, elongate/oblong; distance between PM line and apical patch is greater than height of apical patch; hindwing either mostly white with dark gray shading distally (male?) or fairly uniform brownish-gray (female?); fringe pale
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Elaphriini
- Genus
- Elaphria (Midgets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
eastern United States: Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Wisconsin
Seasonal Activity
adults fly year-round in Florida; June to September northward
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on beardtongue, figwort, monkey-flower, and other members of the snapdragon family
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CHALCEDONY: a precious stone, usually gray and/or whitish, sometimes mixed with other colors, resembling the colors on the moth's forewing
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elaphria chalcedonia. 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 Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679
What is Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679?
Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679 (Elaphria chalcedonia) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679?
wingspan 24-28 mm
How do you identify Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679?
Adult: forewing color a mixture of white, dark gray/blackish, and dull yellow or orangish; basal and upper median areas dull yellowish to orangish; white edging along PM line varies from broad and conspicuous to thin and patchy; dark gray to blackish shading inside AM line next to inner margin, in lower median area, and in subterminal area except for pale yellowish apical patch; reniform spot fairly small and more-or-less flattened/straight; orbicular spot small, elongate/oblong; distance between PM line and apical patch is greater than height of apical patch; hindwing either mostly white with dark gray shading distally (male?) or fairly uniform brownish-gray (female?); fringe pale
Where is Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679 found?
Range: eastern United States: Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Wisconsin
What does Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679 eat?
The diet of the Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679 includes larvae feed on beardtongue, figwort, monkey-flower, and other members of the snapdragon family.
When is Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679 active?
Chalcedony Midget - Hodges#9679: seasonal activity - adults fly year-round in Florida; June to September northward.