Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803
Euxoa velleripennis
This record describes Euxoa velleripennis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing very dark gray with black AM and PM lnes that show little contrast against ground color; reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots outlined in black; center of reniform spot with obscure paler area; orbicular spot very large (touches AM line and almost touches reniform spot) hindwing white in male; gray in female at rest, the wings are overlapped and held against the body (not side-by-side to form a triangular shape, as in Apamea impulsa etc. - see comparison notes in See Also section below)
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
Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Arizona, north to North Dakota and Manitoba
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to October (most common in August and September)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host unknown
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: FLEECE-WINGED: refers to the male's hindwings, which are "white as fleece"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa velleripennis. 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 Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803
What is Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803?
Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803 (Euxoa velleripennis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803?
wingspan 35-40 mm
How do you identify Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803?
forewing very dark gray with black AM and PM lnes that show little contrast against ground color; reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots outlined in black; center of reniform spot with obscure paler area; orbicular spot very large (touches AM line and almost touches reniform spot) hindwing white in male; gray in female at rest, the wings are overlapped and held against the body (not side-by-side to form a triangular shape, as in Apamea impulsa etc. - see comparison notes in See Also section below)
Where is Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Arizona, north to North Dakota and Manitoba
What does Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803 eat?
The diet of the Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803 includes larval host unknown.
When is Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803 active?
Fleece-winged Dart - Hodges#10803: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to October (most common in August and September).