Silent Dart - Hodges#10751
Euxoa silens
This record describes Euxoa silens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light grayish-brown with paler costa; usually has thin black basal streak expanding into poorly defined dark median streak incorporating claviform spot and running through orbicular and reniform spots; orbicular spot small, oval; reniform spot kidney-shaped; both spots filled with contrasting pale scales except for lower part of reniform; transverse lines missing; darker shading extends short distance outward from top and bottom of reniform spot - but not from middle of reniform spot; series of small sagitate (arrowhead-shaped) dashes between veins near outer margin; hindwing white with smoky brown scales along outer end of veins and along outer margin, more extensive in females; a rare gray unstreaked form also occurs [adapted from description at U. of Alberta]
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 grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
British Columbia and Alberta to California and Arizona, east to Colorado; the type specimen was collected in Nevada
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from late April to July in California
Diet and Behavior
Diet: unknown
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: silens : a Latin word derived from "silere" (to be silent); this is the origin of the suggested common name Silent Dart but I don't know what it refers to
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa silens. 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 Silent Dart - Hodges#10751 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Silent Dart - Hodges#10751
What is Silent Dart - Hodges#10751?
Silent Dart - Hodges#10751 (Euxoa silens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Silent Dart - Hodges#10751?
wingspan 37-41 mm
How do you identify Silent Dart - Hodges#10751?
Adult: forewing light grayish-brown with paler costa; usually has thin black basal streak expanding into poorly defined dark median streak incorporating claviform spot and running through orbicular and reniform spots; orbicular spot small, oval; reniform spot kidney-shaped; both spots filled with contrasting pale scales except for lower part of reniform; transverse lines missing; darker shading extends short distance outward from top and bottom of reniform spot - but not from middle of reniform spot; series of small sagitate (arrowhead-shaped) dashes between veins near outer margin; hindwing white with smoky brown scales along outer end of veins and along outer margin, more extensive in females; a rare gray unstreaked form also occurs [adapted from description at U. of Alberta]
Where is Silent Dart - Hodges#10751 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | British Columbia and Alberta to California and Arizona, east to Colorado; the type specimen was collected in Nevada |
What does Silent Dart - Hodges#10751 eat?
The diet of the Silent Dart - Hodges#10751 includes unknown.
When is Silent Dart - Hodges#10751 active?
Silent Dart - Hodges#10751: seasonal activity - adults fly from late April to July in California.