Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421
Hypenodes fractilinea
This record describes Hypenodes fractilinea (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: tiny (for a noctuid) long-winged light gray or dirty white moth with variable darker gray markings; forewing lines usually incomplete and marked by a series of dots; darker median shade often present; terminal area usually darker, and reniform spot usually marked by two dark dots; hindwing light brownish-gray, unmarked [adapted from description at U. of Alberta] Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Hypenodinae
- Genus
- Hypenodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
mixed and deciduous woodlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Alberta and adjacent states, south in the east to Florida and Oklahoma
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to October in mid-latitudes; June to August in Alberta
Diet and Behavior
Diet: unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hypenodes fractilinea. 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 Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421
What is Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421?
Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421 (Hypenodes fractilinea) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421?
wingspan 11-14 mm
How do you identify Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421?
Adult: tiny (for a noctuid) long-winged light gray or dirty white moth with variable darker gray markings; forewing lines usually incomplete and marked by a series of dots; darker median shade often present; terminal area usually darker, and reniform spot usually marked by two dark dots; hindwing light brownish-gray, unmarked [adapted from description at U. of Alberta] Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mixed and deciduous woodlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Newfoundland to Alberta and adjacent states, south in the east to Florida and Oklahoma |
What does Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421 eat?
The diet of the Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421 includes unknown.
When is Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421 active?
Broken-line Hypenodes - Hodges#8421: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to October in mid-latitudes; June to August in Alberta.