Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731
Euclidia cuspidea
This record describes Euclidia cuspidea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing purplish-gray and brown with distinctive black PM triangle, basal and apical spots, and AM band; hindwing yellowish-brown with two blackish lines and basal shading. [description by Charles Covell] Larvae - slender and cylindrical, brown with fine longitudinal striation, forming subdorsal, stigmatal and subventral bands, with the stigmatal stripe comprised of four striae and running onto the side of the head. (Forbes, 1954) In flight Euclidia greatly resemble skippers of the genus Erynnis ; they flush from the ground and fly rapidly for 20 meters or so before dropping back to the ground. (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Euclidiini
- Genus
- Euclidia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grassy wooded edges, clearings and mesic meadows with long grass. (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)[Randy Hardy]
Geographic Range
Quebec west to western Alberta, north to the Northwest Territories and south to the Gulf of Mexico. Cuspidea is replaced in BC by the very closely related and similar appearing E. ardita (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum) [Randy Hardy]
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period appears to be March to August. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on clover (Trifolium sp.) and grasses (Graminiae) (Forbes, 1954); also reported to use sweetfern (Comptonia sp.) and lupine (Lupinus sp.) (Covell, 1984).
Life History
Unusual in that the adults are active both during the day and the night, and are attracted to light. They also come to sugar bait (Handfield, 1999). There appears to be a single annual brood. (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)[Randy Hardy]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euclidia cuspidea. 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 Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731
What is Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731?
Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731 (Euclidia cuspidea) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731?
Forewing length 15–18 mm.
How do you identify Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731?
Adult - forewing purplish-gray and brown with distinctive black PM triangle, basal and apical spots, and AM band; hindwing yellowish-brown with two blackish lines and basal shading. [description by Charles Covell] Larvae - slender and cylindrical, brown with fine longitudinal striation, forming subdorsal, stigmatal and subventral bands, with the stigmatal stripe comprised of four striae and running onto the side of the head. (Forbes, 1954)
Where is Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grassy wooded edges, clearings and mesic meadows with long grass. (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)[Randy Hardy] |
| Range | Quebec west to western Alberta, north to the Northwest Territories and south to the Gulf of Mexico. Cuspidea is replaced in BC by the very closely related and similar appearing E. ardita (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum) [Randy Hardy] |
What does Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731 eat?
The diet of the Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731 includes The larvae feed on clover (Trifolium sp.) and grasses (Graminiae) (Forbes, 1954); also reported to use sweetfern (Comptonia sp.) and lupine (Lupinus sp.) (Covell, 1984)..
When is Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731 active?
Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be March to August. ( 3 ).
What is the life cycle of a Toothed Somberwing - Hodges#8731?
Unusual in that the adults are active both during the day and the night, and are attracted to light. They also come to sugar bait (Handfield, 1999). There appears to be a single annual brood. (E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum)[Randy Hardy]