Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817
Euxoa obeliscoides
This record describes Euxoa obeliscoides (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing with dirty white strip along costa from base to reniform spot; an adjacent black strip provides a contrasting background for the large pale yellowish reniform and orbicular spots; claviform spot cone-shaped, dark gray; medium gray triangular area along inner margin tapers from base to near anal angle; subterminal area pale gray (or reddish-brown in female [?]); terminal band medium gray with jagged inner margin and slightly paler patch at apex; top of thorax with large pale central patch surrounded by darker area hindwing white with diffuse gray terminal band (or solid brownish-gray, slightly darker distally in female [?]) 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
sandy pine forest, dry aspen parkland, riparian cottonwood stands
Geographic Range
British Columbia to Quebec and Maine, south in the east to New England and Illinois, south in the west to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval food plant(s) unknown
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 obeliscoides. 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 Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817
What is Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817?
Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817 (Euxoa obeliscoides) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817?
Forewing length 14-18 mm.
How do you identify Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817?
forewing with dirty white strip along costa from base to reniform spot; an adjacent black strip provides a contrasting background for the large pale yellowish reniform and orbicular spots; claviform spot cone-shaped, dark gray; medium gray triangular area along inner margin tapers from base to near anal angle; subterminal area pale gray (or reddish-brown in female [?]); terminal band medium gray with jagged inner margin and slightly paler patch at apex; top of thorax with large pale central patch surrounded by darker area hindwing white with diffuse gray terminal band (or solid brownish-gray, slightly darker distally in female [?]) Genitalia:
Where is Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sandy pine forest, dry aspen parkland, riparian cottonwood stands |
| Range | British Columbia to Quebec and Maine, south in the east to New England and Illinois, south in the west to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas |
What does Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817 eat?
The diet of the Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817 includes larval food plant(s) unknown.
When is Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817 active?
Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September.
What is the life cycle of a Obelisk Dart - Hodges#10817?
one generation per year; overwinters as an egg