Hypena californica - Hodges#8462
Hypena californica
This record describes Hypena californica (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing slender, variably light to dark grayish-brown; light individuals have blackish streak extending through and beyond reniform and orbicular spots; dark individuals show less overall contrast but have more prominent AM and PM lines, which are pale yellowish or beige; subterminal line a series of dark dots, sometimes indistinct; pale wedge at apex adjacent to dark triangular patch along outer margin; fringe crenulate (with small scallops) except in worn specimens; hindwing broad, yellowish-gray with darker veins; terminal line thin, dark; fringe pale; snout long, projecting forward from head. Larva: body slender, light grayish-green with white lateral stripe; 3 pairs of mid-abdominal prolegs and 1 pair of backward-projecting anal prolegs
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
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia, Alaska, east to Saskatchewan; also recorded from Ontario. Moth Photographers Group map
Seasonal Activity
adults may be present all year in California but are more numerous from March to October, the approximate flight season in the north
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on nettle ( Urtica )
Life History
multiple generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypena californica. 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 californica - Hodges#8462 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypena californica - Hodges#8462
What is Hypena californica - Hodges#8462?
Hypena californica - Hodges#8462 (Hypena californica) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Hypena californica - Hodges#8462?
Adult: forewing slender, variably light to dark grayish-brown; light individuals have blackish streak extending through and beyond reniform and orbicular spots; dark individuals show less overall contrast but have more prominent AM and PM lines, which are pale yellowish or beige; subterminal line a series of dark dots, sometimes indistinct; pale wedge at apex adjacent to dark triangular patch along outer margin; fringe crenulate (with small scallops) except in worn specimens; hindwing broad, yellowish-gray with darker veins; terminal line thin, dark; fringe pale; snout long, projecting forward from head. Larva: body slender, light grayish-green with white lateral stripe; 3 pairs of mid-abdominal prolegs and 1 pair of backward-projecting anal prolegs
Where is Hypena californica - Hodges#8462 found?
Range: California to British Columbia, Alaska, east to Saskatchewan; also recorded from Ontario. Moth Photographers Group map
What does Hypena californica - Hodges#8462 eat?
The diet of the Hypena californica - Hodges#8462 includes larvae feed on nettle ( Urtica ).
When is Hypena californica - Hodges#8462 active?
Hypena californica - Hodges#8462: seasonal activity - adults may be present all year in California but are more numerous from March to October, the approximate flight season in the north.
What is the life cycle of a Hypena californica - Hodges#8462?
multiple generations per year