Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936
Eupsilia morrisoni
This record describes Eupsilia morrisoni (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Grote original description as Scopelosoma morrisoni is available online in the print references. Crumb describes the larva.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Eupsilia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Northeastern North America. ( 4 ) , ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
adults usually fly from March to May and again from September to November (may also be active on sunny days in January and February)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of apple, birch, cherry, elm, maple, oak ( 5 )
Life History
overwinters as an adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of collector Herbert Knowles Morrison (1854–1885).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eupsilia morrisoni. 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 Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936
What is Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936?
Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936 (Eupsilia morrisoni) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936?
Wingspan 35-40 mm. Larvae to 33 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936?
Grote original description as Scopelosoma morrisoni is available online in the print references. Crumb describes the larva.
Where is Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936 found?
Range: Northeastern North America. ( 4 ) , ( 5 )
What does Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936 eat?
The diet of the Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936 includes larvae feed on leaves of apple, birch, cherry, elm, maple, oak ( 5 ).
When is Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936 active?
Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936: seasonal activity - adults usually fly from March to May and again from September to November (may also be active on sunny days in January and February).
What is the life cycle of a Morrison's Sallow - Hodges#9936?
overwinters as an adult