Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629
Fagitana littera
This record describes Fagitana littera (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark reddish-brown or purplish-brown with white AM and PM lines edged in black; reniform spot a white horizontal streak; AM line oblique, PM line almost straight, terminal line white, following contour of slightly angled outer margin; fringe dark; hindwing brownish-gray, slightly darker beyond oblique PM line; discal spot large, diffuse; terminal line and fringe dark Larva: body of mature larva green or reddish-brown, densely mottled with minute white spots that gather into lines; middorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular stripes white, middorsal and subdorsal stripes twice width of spiracular stripe; pale circular pinacula over thorax contrasting with adjacent ground color; head with dark line to either side of triangle; anal prolegs short early instars bright green with stripes, including supraspiracular, more prominent; head yellowish-green, mostly unmarked or with faint line above eyes and second line to either side of triangle [adapted from description by David Wagner et al ] local and rare over much of range; locally common in selected areas
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Fagitana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
bogs, acidic shrub swamps, wet pine barrens, wetlands; adults are nocturnal, but only males usually come to light
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Mississippi, north to Wisconsin and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August, very rarely September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on foliage of ferns widely reported in literature to feed on Eastern Marsh Fern ( Thelypteris palustris ) apparently based on a single collection on Long Island, New York by Roy Latham ; larvae have been reared on Virginia Chainfern ( Woodwardia virginica ), Royal Fern ( Osmunda regalis ), and brackenfern ( Pteridium )
Life History
one generation per year in the north; two in the south
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Fagitana littera. 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 Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629
What is Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629?
Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629 (Fagitana littera) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629?
wingspan about 27 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG larva length to 30 mm
How do you identify Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629?
Adult: forewing dark reddish-brown or purplish-brown with white AM and PM lines edged in black; reniform spot a white horizontal streak; AM line oblique, PM line almost straight, terminal line white, following contour of slightly angled outer margin; fringe dark; hindwing brownish-gray, slightly darker beyond oblique PM line; discal spot large, diffuse; terminal line and fringe dark Larva: body of mature larva green or reddish-brown, densely mottled with minute white spots that gather into lines; middorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular stripes white, middorsal and subdorsal stripes twice width of spiracular stripe; pale circular pinacula over thorax contrasting with adjacent ground color; head with dark line to either side of triangle; anal prolegs short early instars bright green with stripes, including supraspiracular, more prominent; head yellowish-green, mostly unmarked or with faint line above eyes and second line to either side of triangle [adapted from description by David Wagner et al ]
Where is Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | bogs, acidic shrub swamps, wet pine barrens, wetlands; adults are nocturnal, but only males usually come to light |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Mississippi, north to Wisconsin and Ontario |
What does Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629 eat?
The diet of the Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629 includes larvae feed on foliage of ferns widely reported in literature to feed on Eastern Marsh Fern ( Thelypteris palustris ) apparently based on a single collection on Long Island, New York by Roy Latham ; larvae have been reared on Virginia Chainfern ( Woodwardia virginica ), Royal Fern ( Osmunda regalis ), and brackenfern ( Pteridium ).
When is Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629 active?
Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August, very rarely September.
What is the life cycle of a Marsh Fern Moth - Hodges#9629?
one generation per year in the north; two in the south