Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729
Euxoa simona
This record describes Euxoa simona (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with black double basal, AM and PM lines, usually indistinct; ground color of wing slightly paler in basal half; orbicular spot circular, with prominent pale perimeter and dark interior; reniform spot with smudged blackish lower half and pale perimeter; claviform spot black-edged, usually discernible; black diffuse median line zigzags from lower corner of reniform spot to inner margin, almost touching PM line; subterminal line pale, faint, with several blackish wedges distributed along proximal edge; terminal line scalloped or zigzagged; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to gray distally, with dark veins and discal lunule; fringe pale with some dark scaling at ends of veins; collar, tegulae (shoulder pads), and top of thorax all uniformly grayish-brown
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
montane grasslands and arid "high plains" grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
northern California to Colorado, north to southern British Columbia and Alberta
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September in California; June and July in Alberta
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa simona. 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 Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729
What is Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729?
Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729 (Euxoa simona) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729?
wingspan 40-44 mm
How do you identify Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with black double basal, AM and PM lines, usually indistinct; ground color of wing slightly paler in basal half; orbicular spot circular, with prominent pale perimeter and dark interior; reniform spot with smudged blackish lower half and pale perimeter; claviform spot black-edged, usually discernible; black diffuse median line zigzags from lower corner of reniform spot to inner margin, almost touching PM line; subterminal line pale, faint, with several blackish wedges distributed along proximal edge; terminal line scalloped or zigzagged; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to gray distally, with dark veins and discal lunule; fringe pale with some dark scaling at ends of veins; collar, tegulae (shoulder pads), and top of thorax all uniformly grayish-brown
Where is Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | montane grasslands and arid high plains grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | northern California to Colorado, north to southern British Columbia and Alberta |
What does Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729 eat?
The diet of the Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729 includes larvae unknown.
When is Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729 active?
Euxoa simona - Hodges#10729: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September in California; June and July in Alberta.