Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813
Euxoa medialis
This record describes Euxoa medialis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing variable and can be pale gray, yellowish or a dull pinkish color. 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
Arid grasslands of Northern Great Plains to arid southwestern states.
Geographic Range
Alberta to Manitoba and Wisconsin south to Texas and California; also occurs to southern Mexico.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa medialis. 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 Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813
What is Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813?
Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813 (Euxoa medialis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813?
Wingspan 36-40 mm.
How do you identify Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813?
Forewing variable and can be pale gray, yellowish or a dull pinkish color. Genitalia:
Where is Median-banded Dart - Hodges#10813 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid grasslands of Northern Great Plains to arid southwestern states. |
| Range | Alberta to Manitoba and Wisconsin south to Texas and California; also occurs to southern Mexico. |