Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705
Euxoa messoria
This record describes Euxoa messoria (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with black double scalloped AM and PM lines; reniform and orbicular spots same color as ground color with black perimeter; subterminal line pale, irregular; some dark shading in terminal area, especially about midway along outer margin; hindwing mostly white with dark veins, dark terminal line, and pale fringe. 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
Open grasslands, cultivated areas, clearings; adults are nocturnal and come to light and sugar bait.
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Yukon, south to California, New Mexico, and North Carolina. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection locations and dates.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of apple, cultivated vegetables and flowers, and various other plants.
Life History
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa messoria. 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 Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705
What is Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705?
Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705 (Euxoa messoria) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705?
Wingspan 32-36 mm.
How do you identify Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705?
Adult: forewing brownish-gray with black double scalloped AM and PM lines; reniform and orbicular spots same color as ground color with black perimeter; subterminal line pale, irregular; some dark shading in terminal area, especially about midway along outer margin; hindwing mostly white with dark veins, dark terminal line, and pale fringe. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open grasslands, cultivated areas, clearings; adults are nocturnal and come to light and sugar bait. |
| Range | Newfoundland to Yukon, south to California, New Mexico, and North Carolina. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection locations and dates. |
What does Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705 eat?
The diet of the Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705 includes Larvae feed on leaves of apple, cultivated vegetables and flowers, and various other plants..
What is the life cycle of a Reaper Dart - Hodges#10705?
One generation per year; overwinters as an egg.