Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727
Euxoa pleuritica
This record describes Euxoa pleuritica (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mottled coppery brown with areas of dark gray and darker brown; reniform spot has dark gray smudge in lower half; orbicular spot round, dark in center; claviform spot partial or sometimes absent; AM line black, double, scalloped; PM line scalloped; subterminal line pale, irregular, bordered proximally by a few dark gray wedges, and distally by dark gray shading; terminal line a series of black dashes; male hindwing dirty white or pale cream with dark scales along veins and outer margin; female hindwing darker and grayer
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 forests, old dunes, open areas with light soils; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to British Columbia, south in the east to North Carolina, south in the west to Arizona and New Mexico
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae have been reared on Russian Thistle ( Salsola kali )
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as a larva
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa pleuritica. 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 Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727
What is Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727?
Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727 (Euxoa pleuritica) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727?
wingspan 34-38 mm
How do you identify Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727?
Adult: forewing mottled coppery brown with areas of dark gray and darker brown; reniform spot has dark gray smudge in lower half; orbicular spot round, dark in center; claviform spot partial or sometimes absent; AM line black, double, scalloped; PM line scalloped; subterminal line pale, irregular, bordered proximally by a few dark gray wedges, and distally by dark gray shading; terminal line a series of black dashes; male hindwing dirty white or pale cream with dark scales along veins and outer margin; female hindwing darker and grayer
Where is Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sandy pine forests, old dunes, open areas with light soils; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Newfoundland to British Columbia, south in the east to North Carolina, south in the west to Arizona and New Mexico |
What does Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727 eat?
The diet of the Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727 includes larvae have been reared on Russian Thistle ( Salsola kali ).
When is Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727 active?
Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Fawn Brown Dart - Hodges#10727?
one generation per year; overwinters as a larva