Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450
Hypena atomaria
This record describes Hypena atomaria (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing light brownish-gray with brown speckling; AM line brown, angled like a skewed W, may be faint; PM line brown, almost straight, bordered proximally by band of dark shading; ST line a diffuse dark band, outer half straight and with five dark spots, inner half with shallow notch and no spots; terminal line thin, dark hindwing pale yellowish A rare species, endangered or threatened in the east. Although it occurs west to British Columbia, no Internet information could be found on its status in the western provinces.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Hypeninae
- Genus
- Hypena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
low vegetation in deciduous woods
Geographic Range
British Columbia to Quebec and northeastern states (Internet records from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from early June through late August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval food plant unknown; larva found on and fed on Urtica dioica - Jim Sogaard
Life History
one generation per year in Quebec; perhaps two in southern Ontario and Ohio
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypena atomaria. 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 Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450
What is Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450?
Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450 (Hypena atomaria) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450?
wingspan 25-30 mm
How do you identify Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450?
forewing light brownish-gray with brown speckling; AM line brown, angled like a skewed W, may be faint; PM line brown, almost straight, bordered proximally by band of dark shading; ST line a diffuse dark band, outer half straight and with five dark spots, inner half with shallow notch and no spots; terminal line thin, dark hindwing pale yellowish
Where is Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | low vegetation in deciduous woods |
| Range | British Columbia to Quebec and northeastern states (Internet records from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio) |
What does Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450 eat?
The diet of the Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450 includes larval food plant unknown; larva found on and fed on Urtica dioica - Jim Sogaard.
When is Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450 active?
Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450: seasonal activity - adults fly from early June through late August.
What is the life cycle of a Hypena atomaria - Hodges#8450?
one generation per year in Quebec; perhaps two in southern Ontario and Ohio