LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836

Euxoa dargo

This record describes Euxoa dargo (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836 - Euxoa dargo
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

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

Habitat

Euxoa dargo is known from shortgrass and sagebrush grasslands.

Seasonal Activity

Pohl, et al. reported a flight period of late August to early September. Moth Photographers Group includes some November records.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larvae are known to feed on Salsola L. species (Russian thistle) and corn.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa dargo. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836

How big is Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836?

Wingspan is 27-29 mm.

Where is Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836 found?

Habitat: Euxoa dargo is known from shortgrass and sagebrush grasslands.

What does Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836 eat?

The diet of the Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836 includes Larvae are known to feed on Salsola L. species (Russian thistle) and corn..

When is Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836 active?

Euxoa dargo - Hodges#10836: seasonal activity - Pohl, et al. reported a flight period of late August to early September. Moth Photographers Group includes some November records..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.