Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1
Heliocheilus lupatus
This record describes Heliocheilus lupatus (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This moth is expanding its range northward. In 1954 the moth was not known to occur north of the Carolinas. It's now common and widespread in southern New Jersey.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heliothinae
- Genus
- Heliocheilus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Found from Kentucky and central Connecticut south (through Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) to Florida and Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Tridens flavus , possibly Eragrostis curvula , and possibly other grasses.
Life History
One generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Heliocheilus lupatus. 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 Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by JohnMaxwell22 , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1
What is Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1?
Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1 (Heliocheilus lupatus) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1?
Wingspan ≈ 28 mm
Where is Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1 found?
Range: Found from Kentucky and central Connecticut south (through Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) to Florida and Texas.
What does Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1 eat?
The diet of the Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1 includes Tridens flavus , possibly Eragrostis curvula , and possibly other grasses..
What is the life cycle of a Spotted Straw Moth - Hodges#11073.1?
One generation per year