Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461
Hypena humuli
This record describes Hypena humuli (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing appearance variable but usually with this pattern - dark brown to blackish in upper half except for pale brown patch along distal half of costa, and lighter brown in lower half (along inner margin); dark streak runs from apex to reniform spot; subterminal line consists of several dark dots; PM line with large sharp tooth near costa, and smaller teeth toward inner margin; lacks thin black horizontal line midway along inner margin; hindwing pale brownish-yellow; labial palps long, as in other Hypena species Larva: body light grayish-green with thick black dorsal stripe edged in white; head black
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
fields, weedy areas, waste places; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Geographic Range
coast-to-coast in northern United States and southern Canada, south in the east to Florida, south in the west to California apparently absent from southcentral states (missing from three Texas lists [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and Bruce Walsh's Arizona list ) in Canada, absent only from Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and the far north
Seasonal Activity
adults fly all year in the south and west; April to November in the northeast
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Common Hop ( Humulus lupulus ) and Stinging Nettle ( Urtica dioica )
Life History
at least three generations per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: HUMULI: refers to Humulus , the hop genus, one of the larval foodplants
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypena humuli. 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 Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Fyn Kynd , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461
What is Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461?
Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461 (Hypena humuli) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461?
length is 14-20 mm, wingspan is 25-30 mm
How do you identify Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461?
Adult: forewing appearance variable but usually with this pattern - dark brown to blackish in upper half except for pale brown patch along distal half of costa, and lighter brown in lower half (along inner margin); dark streak runs from apex to reniform spot; subterminal line consists of several dark dots; PM line with large sharp tooth near costa, and smaller teeth toward inner margin; lacks thin black horizontal line midway along inner margin; hindwing pale brownish-yellow; labial palps long, as in other Hypena species Larva: body light grayish-green with thick black dorsal stripe edged in white; head black
Where is Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, weedy areas, waste places; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light |
| Range | coast-to-coast in northern United States and southern Canada, south in the east to Florida, south in the west to California apparently absent from southcentral states (missing from three Texas lists [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and Bruce Walsh's Arizona list ) in Canada, absent only from Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and the far north |
What does Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461 eat?
The diet of the Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461 includes larvae feed on Common Hop ( Humulus lupulus ) and Stinging Nettle ( Urtica dioica ).
When is Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461 active?
Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461: seasonal activity - adults fly all year in the south and west; April to November in the northeast.
What is the life cycle of a Hop Vine Moth - Hodges#8461?
at least three generations per year