LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761

Euxoa stygialis

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

Identification and Appearance

Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761 - Euxoa stygialis
Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman

Adult - dark basal dash on the forewings. See description by Barnes & McDunnough in Print References.

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

Arizona. Type locality: Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, Arizona (1-7 July).

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "of the river Styx, hated, hellish, deadly."

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa stygialis. 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 stygialis - Hodges#10761

What is Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761?

Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761 (Euxoa stygialis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761?

Wingspan about 45 mm.

How do you identify Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761?

Adult - dark basal dash on the forewings. See description by Barnes & McDunnough in Print References.

Where is Euxoa stygialis - Hodges#10761 found?

Range: Arizona. Type locality: Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, Arizona (1-7 July).

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.