Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937
Furcula cinerea
This record describes Furcula cinerea (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray with low-contrast medium gray median and subterminal areas, or completely medium gray in some individuals; AM, PM, and terminal lines a series of black dots; small amounts of yellow or orange often present on forewing and top of thorax hindwing light grayish-white with dark discal spot and terminal line of black dots Larva: head brown; two small brown-barbed tubercles or horns on first thoracic segment; body green except for brown saddle-shaped areas edged in red on T1, A4, A5, A8, and A9 segments; anal prolegs modified into pair of long narrow tail-like projections ringed with brown, green, and red, giving the appearance of a forked tail
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cerurinae
- Genus
- Furcula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
all of United States and southern Canada, plus Northwest Territories
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to September in the south; May to August in the north larvae from spring to fall in the south; July and August in the north
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of birch, poplar, willow
Life History
overwinters as a pupa; two generations per year in the south, one in the north Eggs; larva; larva; larva; larva; adult with cocoon; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CINEREA: from the Latin "cinereus" (ashy), from "cinis" (ashes) - having the color of ashes, a light gray; refers to the forewing color
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Furcula cinerea. 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 Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Ethan Kistler , Ron M. , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937
What is Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937?
Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937 (Furcula cinerea) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937?
wingspan 31-42 mm
How do you identify Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937?
Adult: forewing light gray with low-contrast medium gray median and subterminal areas, or completely medium gray in some individuals; AM, PM, and terminal lines a series of black dots; small amounts of yellow or orange often present on forewing and top of thorax hindwing light grayish-white with dark discal spot and terminal line of black dots Larva: head brown; two small brown-barbed tubercles or horns on first thoracic segment; body green except for brown saddle-shaped areas edged in red on T1, A4, A5, A8, and A9 segments; anal prolegs modified into pair of long narrow tail-like projections ringed with brown, green, and red, giving the appearance of a forked tail
Where is Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937 found?
Range: all of United States and southern Canada, plus Northwest Territories
What does Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937 eat?
The diet of the Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937 includes larvae feed on leaves of birch, poplar, willow.
When is Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937 active?
Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to September in the south; May to August in the north larvae from spring to fall in the south; July and August in the north.
What is the life cycle of a Gray Furcula - Hodges#7937?
overwinters as a pupa; two generations per year in the south, one in the north Eggs; larva; larva; larva; larva; adult with cocoon; adult