LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Euxoa pestula - Hodges#10728

Euxoa pestula

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

Identification and Appearance

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

Geographic Range

northern Great Plains - Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and western Montana (possibly montane areas of southern Wyoming and northern Colorado; also possible in open sandy areas in south-central Northwest Territories)

Seasonal Activity

mid-June to late August

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Euxoa pestula - Hodges#10728

How big is Euxoa pestula - Hodges#10728?

Forewing length 15-18 mm

Where is Euxoa pestula - Hodges#10728 found?

Range: northern Great Plains - Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and western Montana (possibly montane areas of southern Wyoming and northern Colorado; also possible in open sandy areas in south-central Northwest Territories)

When is Euxoa pestula - Hodges#10728 active?

Euxoa pestula - Hodges#10728: seasonal activity - mid-June to late August.