Western Furcula - Hodges#7939
Furcula occidentalis
This record describes Furcula occidentalis (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale grayish with dark gray to charcoal median band and dark gray to charcoal patch along costa near apex; PM line triple, fine, continuous across wing presenting 3 distinct 'teeth' in the two most distal PM lines; AM and terminal lines composed of several large black dots; some yellow or orange coloration often present next to AM and PM lines, and sometimes in a band of color across top of thorax hindwing pale grayish-white with black-dotted terminal line and dark discal spot Larva: body lime green with continuous dorsal blue-green and brown saddle extending down toward second abdominal proleg; saddle outlined in yellow; rear of second thoracic segment with raised transverse ridge; tails (anal prolegs) have extrusible portion brown with pale subapical band [adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles)
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
Alberta to Newfoundland south to Iowa, Ohio and New Jersey with populations in Colorado and New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to August larvae from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed mostly on willow, and sometimes poplar
Life History
overwinters as a pupa; one or two generations per year Larva; larva; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: OCCIDENTALIS: occidental means western (as opposed to oriental - eastern); generally refers to the western hemisphere Three other Furcula species in North America are distributed, like occidentalis , from the east coast to the west coast, so there is nothing uniquely western about this species.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Furcula occidentalis. 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 Western Furcula - Hodges#7939 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Jason D. Roberts , marcie oconnor , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Furcula - Hodges#7939
What is Western Furcula - Hodges#7939?
Western Furcula - Hodges#7939 (Furcula occidentalis) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Western Furcula - Hodges#7939?
wingspan 32-45 mm
How do you identify Western Furcula - Hodges#7939?
Adult: forewing pale grayish with dark gray to charcoal median band and dark gray to charcoal patch along costa near apex; PM line triple, fine, continuous across wing presenting 3 distinct 'teeth' in the two most distal PM lines; AM and terminal lines composed of several large black dots; some yellow or orange coloration often present next to AM and PM lines, and sometimes in a band of color across top of thorax hindwing pale grayish-white with black-dotted terminal line and dark discal spot Larva: body lime green with continuous dorsal blue-green and brown saddle extending down toward second abdominal proleg; saddle outlined in yellow; rear of second thoracic segment with raised transverse ridge; tails (anal prolegs) have extrusible portion brown with pale subapical band [adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles)
Where is Western Furcula - Hodges#7939 found?
Range: Alberta to Newfoundland south to Iowa, Ohio and New Jersey with populations in Colorado and New Mexico.
What does Western Furcula - Hodges#7939 eat?
The diet of the Western Furcula - Hodges#7939 includes larvae feed mostly on willow, and sometimes poplar.
When is Western Furcula - Hodges#7939 active?
Western Furcula - Hodges#7939: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to August larvae from June to September.
What is the life cycle of a Western Furcula - Hodges#7939?
overwinters as a pupa; one or two generations per year Larva; larva; adult