Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738
Euxoa mimallonis
This record describes Euxoa mimallonis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably bright to dull reddish or orangish with faint AM and PM lines, and dark reniform and orbicular spots sometimes outlined in pale scales; hindwing bright white in male, and dirty white, shading to sooty gray with white fringe in female
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
dry open woodlands, edges, meadows, grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south in the east to New York, Michigan, Minnesota, and south in the west to New Mexico, Arizona, California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September
Diet and Behavior
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 mimallonis. 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 Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738
What is Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738?
Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738 (Euxoa mimallonis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738?
Forewing length 15-17 mm.
How do you identify Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738?
Adult: forewing variably bright to dull reddish or orangish with faint AM and PM lines, and dark reniform and orbicular spots sometimes outlined in pale scales; hindwing bright white in male, and dirty white, shading to sooty gray with white fringe in female
Where is Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry open woodlands, edges, meadows, grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south in the east to New York, Michigan, Minnesota, and south in the west to New Mexico, Arizona, California |
When is Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738 active?
Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September.
What is the life cycle of a Ruddy-winged Dart - Hodges#10738?
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg