Boston Dart - Hodges#10812
Euxoa bostoniensis
This record describes Euxoa bostoniensis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing pale mouse-gray; lines faint, double, incomplete except for a broad single median line which passes through faint reniform spot, then angles toward costa; no orbicular spot hindwing white with grayish-brown border in male; solid grayish-brown in female [description by Charles Covell] no images of live adults or larvae found on Internet, as of 4 Oct 2005
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Euxoa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ontario and Maine to North Carolina, west to Missouri, north to Michigan; also recorded in Florida, California, and South Dakota
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in May and again in September and October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: the only recorded larval food plant is tobacco but the species occurs in many areas where tobacco is not present
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa bostoniensis. 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 Boston Dart - Hodges#10812 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Dart - Hodges#10812
What is Boston Dart - Hodges#10812?
Boston Dart - Hodges#10812 (Euxoa bostoniensis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Boston Dart - Hodges#10812?
wingspan 40-45 mm
How do you identify Boston Dart - Hodges#10812?
forewing pale mouse-gray; lines faint, double, incomplete except for a broad single median line which passes through faint reniform spot, then angles toward costa; no orbicular spot hindwing white with grayish-brown border in male; solid grayish-brown in female [description by Charles Covell]
Where is Boston Dart - Hodges#10812 found?
Range: Ontario and Maine to North Carolina, west to Missouri, north to Michigan; also recorded in Florida, California, and South Dakota
What does Boston Dart - Hodges#10812 eat?
The diet of the Boston Dart - Hodges#10812 includes the only recorded larval food plant is tobacco but the species occurs in many areas where tobacco is not present.
When is Boston Dart - Hodges#10812 active?
Boston Dart - Hodges#10812: seasonal activity - adults fly in May and again in September and October.