Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449
Globia oblonga
This record describes Globia oblonga (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish with grayish-brown shading; orbicular and reniform spots outlined with ground color; PM line and terminal line a series of tiny black dots hindwing colored as forewing but grayish-brown shading darker [description by Charles Covell] Larva: whitish or pale brown with small sparse spots but no conspicuous markings; head small, dark brown; mature larvae rarely seen, as they bore inside the stems of aquatic plants below the water line Grote (1882) original description as Nonagria oblonga is online in the print references. The distinctively shaped pupa rests head upward inside the stem, and the moth escapes through a hole in the stem which it carefully planned while it was still a caterpillar and preparing to pupate. [Jeremy Tatum]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Globia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
damp or marshy areas where food plants grow; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Geographic Range
all of United States and southern Canada. ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June/July to September in the north, with a second brood from November to May in the deep south
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae initially a leaf miner and later a stem borer below the water line inside stems of cattail ( Typha spp.) and bulrush ( Scirpus spp.)
Life History
one or two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Globia oblonga. 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 Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449
What is Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449?
Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449 (Globia oblonga) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449?
wingspan 35-50 mm
How do you identify Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449?
Adult: forewing yellowish with grayish-brown shading; orbicular and reniform spots outlined with ground color; PM line and terminal line a series of tiny black dots hindwing colored as forewing but grayish-brown shading darker [description by Charles Covell] Larva: whitish or pale brown with small sparse spots but no conspicuous markings; head small, dark brown; mature larvae rarely seen, as they bore inside the stems of aquatic plants below the water line Grote (1882) original description as Nonagria oblonga is online in the print references.
Where is Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | damp or marshy areas where food plants grow; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light |
| Range | all of United States and southern Canada. ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) |
What does Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449 eat?
The diet of the Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449 includes larvae initially a leaf miner and later a stem borer below the water line inside stems of cattail ( Typha spp.) and bulrush ( Scirpus spp.).
When is Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449 active?
Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449: seasonal activity - adults fly from June/July to September in the north, with a second brood from November to May in the deep south.
What is the life cycle of a Oblong Sedge Borer - Hodges#9449?
one or two generations per year