Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684
Elaphria grata
This record describes Elaphria grata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing reddish-brown with whitish lines. Dark gray dots in reniform and orbicular spots. .
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 North America, common in southern United States
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April-October, with several broods.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae reported to eat various forbs, also oaks and dead leaves--clearly not fussy eaters.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elaphria grata. 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 Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684
What is Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684?
Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684 (Elaphria grata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684?
Wingspan 20-26 mm.
How do you identify Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684?
Forewing reddish-brown with whitish lines. Dark gray dots in reniform and orbicular spots. .
Where is Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684 found?
Range: Eastern North America, common in southern United States
When is Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684 active?
Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April-October, with several broods..
What is the life cycle of a Grateful Midget - Hodges#9684?
Larvae reported to eat various forbs, also oaks and dead leaves--clearly not fussy eaters.