Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676
Elaphria nucicolora
This record describes Elaphria nucicolora (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing medium brown with small round blackish reniform spot (sometimes indistinct) and diffuse dark blotch in center of median area; median area may or may not contain slightly darker patch shaped somewhat like a shark's dorsal fin; dark diagonal dash runs from PM line to apex; small white or pale gray patch often present at wing base along inner margin (creating an obvious pale spot when moth is at rest with wings closed); hindwing mostly white
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
southeastern United States (Florida to North Carolina, west to Texas) south to Peru
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to November in Georgia; may be present year-round in Florida and the tropics
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on various plants and are sometimes reported on sugarcane
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elaphria nucicolora. 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 Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676
What is Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676?
Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676 (Elaphria nucicolora) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676?
wingspan about 21 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676?
Adult: forewing medium brown with small round blackish reniform spot (sometimes indistinct) and diffuse dark blotch in center of median area; median area may or may not contain slightly darker patch shaped somewhat like a shark's dorsal fin; dark diagonal dash runs from PM line to apex; small white or pale gray patch often present at wing base along inner margin (creating an obvious pale spot when moth is at rest with wings closed); hindwing mostly white
Where is Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676 found?
Range: southeastern United States (Florida to North Carolina, west to Texas) south to Peru
What does Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676 eat?
The diet of the Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676 includes larvae feed on various plants and are sometimes reported on sugarcane.
When is Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676 active?
Sugarcane Midget - Hodges#9676: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to November in Georgia; may be present year-round in Florida and the tropics.