Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718
Emarginea percara
This record describes Emarginea percara (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing whitish with distinct green tint in live specimens; large dark gray irregular U-shaped patch in median area, with the ends of the U touching the costa; smaller dark gray patch along inner margin near anal angle; blackish basal dash usually present; outer margin with shallow notch near apex; hindwing dirty yellowish-gray with darker gray PM line. Specimens identified by DNA analysis: In a study of another mistletoe-feeding species, the Great Purple Hairstreak, the larvae of Emarginea percara were found to be heavily preyed upon by the bordered plant bug Largus cinctus and predatory stink bug Podisus acutissimus (Whittaker, 1984). E. pallida was redefined as a very pale desert form of E. percara known from the deserts of southeastern California, southernmost Nevada, and western Arizona in Lafontaine & Schmidt.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Amphipyrinae
- Tribe
- Psaphidini
- Genus
- Emarginea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US to s. Calif. (Maryland to Florida, west to Oklahoma and California) - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Records of adults are mostly from April to October. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of mistletoe, Phoradendron spp.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Emarginea percara. 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 Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718
What is Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718?
Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718 (Emarginea percara) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718?
Wingspan about 20-24 mm.
How do you identify Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718?
Adult: forewing whitish with distinct green tint in live specimens; large dark gray irregular U-shaped patch in median area, with the ends of the U touching the costa; smaller dark gray patch along inner margin near anal angle; blackish basal dash usually present; outer margin with shallow notch near apex; hindwing dirty yellowish-gray with darker gray PM line. Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718 found?
Range: se US to s. Calif. (Maryland to Florida, west to Oklahoma and California) - Map (MPG)
What does Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718 eat?
The diet of the Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718 includes Larvae feed on leaves of mistletoe, Phoradendron spp..
When is Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718 active?
Beloved Emarginea Moth - Hodges#9718: seasonal activity - Records of adults are mostly from April to October. ( 3 ).