Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805
Euxoa tessellata
This record describes Euxoa tessellata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing medium to dark grayish-brown, often with reddish or purplish tint; orbicular and reniform spots prominent, pale gray or yellowish; black triangular patch proximal to orbicular spot, and black rectangular patch between orbicular and reniform spots; claviform spot usually absent; AM line double, indistinct; black basal dash usually present; small tuft of scales at base of costa yellow in male, white in female; subterminal line pale, faint, broken; terminal area slightly darker gray; hindwing dirty white to light brown with dark veins, costa, and outer margin Genitalia: ♀ ♂
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
agricultural fields, gardens, orhards, shrubby areas
Geographic Range
the most widespread species of Euxoa in North America: Newfoundland to Alaska, south in the west to California , Arizona, New Mexico, south in the east to Florida (apparently absent from Texas and adjacent eastern states)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on tobacco, various garden crops, and leaves of apple, cherry, pear
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: tessellate means "laid out in a mosaic pattern of small square blocks"; perhaps refers to the alternating dark-and-light pattern of the orbicular and reniform spots and adjacent areas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa tessellata. 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 Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805
What is Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805?
Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805 (Euxoa tessellata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805?
wingspan 30-38 mm
How do you identify Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805?
Adult: forewing medium to dark grayish-brown, often with reddish or purplish tint; orbicular and reniform spots prominent, pale gray or yellowish; black triangular patch proximal to orbicular spot, and black rectangular patch between orbicular and reniform spots; claviform spot usually absent; AM line double, indistinct; black basal dash usually present; small tuft of scales at base of costa yellow in male, white in female; subterminal line pale, faint, broken; terminal area slightly darker gray; hindwing dirty white to light brown with dark veins, costa, and outer margin Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | agricultural fields, gardens, orhards, shrubby areas |
| Range | the most widespread species of Euxoa in North America: Newfoundland to Alaska, south in the west to California , Arizona, New Mexico, south in the east to Florida (apparently absent from Texas and adjacent eastern states) |
What does Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805 eat?
The diet of the Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805 includes larvae feed on tobacco, various garden crops, and leaves of apple, cherry, pear.
When is Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805 active?
Tessellate Dart - Hodges#10805: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September.