LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848

Euxoa latro

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

Identification and Appearance

Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 - Euxoa latro
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi

Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Genitalia:

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

Pine and conifer forests.

Geographic Range

California to Colorado and British Columbia. Holotype ♂ from Truckee, California, in USNM, Washington. ( 4 )

Seasonal Activity

The main flight period appears to be July to October. ( 5 )

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

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

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 (5)

Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi

Frequently Asked Questions About Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848

What is Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848?

Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 (Euxoa latro) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848?

Forewing length 12–15 mm.

How do you identify Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848?

Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 ) Genitalia:

Where is Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 found?
FeatureDetails
HabitatPine and conifer forests.
RangeCalifornia to Colorado and British Columbia. Holotype ♂ from Truckee, California, in USNM, Washington. ( 4 )
When is Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848 active?

Euxoa latro - Hodges#10848: seasonal activity - The main flight period appears to be July to October. ( 5 ).

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.