LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1

Fishia nigrescens

This record describes Fishia nigrescens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 - Fishia nigrescens
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Family
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily
Noctuinae
Tribe
Xylenini
Genus
Fishia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Central and eastern Oregon, Nevada, eastern California and Arizona.

Seasonal Activity

Adults fly late fall, usually October.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larvae have been reared from Ericameria nauseosa .

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Fishia nigrescens. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 (5)

Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1

How big is Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1?

Forewing length. ♂ 19–20 mm. ♀ 18 mm.

Where is Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 found?

Range: Central and eastern Oregon, Nevada, eastern California and Arizona.

What does Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 eat?

The diet of the Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 includes Larvae have been reared from Ericameria nauseosa ..

When is Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1 active?

Fishia nigrescens - Hodges#9972.1: seasonal activity - Adults fly late fall, usually October..

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.