Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333
Idia denticulalis
This record describes Idia denticulalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing shaded with light yellowish-gray or yellowish-brown; AM, PM, and ST lines with sharp irregular teeth; reniform spot represented by a small and indistinct dark arc with pale outline (sometimes faint or absent); diffuse dark patch in median area touches proximal edge of PM line at inner margin; hindwing similar color to forewing but slightly paler and with smoother lines
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Herminiinae
- Genus
- Idia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
open moist or sandy woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait [Handfield]
Geographic Range
mostly northeastern United States and southeastern Canada: New Brunswick to North Carolina, west to Illinois, north to Ontario two Internet records from Texas, presumably of a small population, as the species is not recorded on these three Texas moth lists: 1 , 2 , 3 although All-Leps shows a collection record from Florida, the species name is not on this Florida list by John Heppner
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to September in Maryland; July and August in Quebec [Handfield]
Diet and Behavior
Diet: unknown as of July 2009
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: DENTICULALIS: from the Latin "dens, dentis" (tooth, teeth); refers to the toothed lines on the forewing (and is the origin of the common name) but this characteristic is also present in several other species of Idia
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Idia denticulalis. 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 Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333
What is Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333?
Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333 (Idia denticulalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333?
wingspan about 25 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333?
Adult: forewing shaded with light yellowish-gray or yellowish-brown; AM, PM, and ST lines with sharp irregular teeth; reniform spot represented by a small and indistinct dark arc with pale outline (sometimes faint or absent); diffuse dark patch in median area touches proximal edge of PM line at inner margin; hindwing similar color to forewing but slightly paler and with smoother lines
Where is Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | open moist or sandy woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait [Handfield] |
| Range | mostly northeastern United States and southeastern Canada: New Brunswick to North Carolina, west to Illinois, north to Ontario two Internet records from Texas, presumably of a small population, as the species is not recorded on these three Texas moth lists: 1 , 2 , 3 although All-Leps shows a collection record from Florida, the species name is not on this Florida list by John Heppner |
What does Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333 eat?
The diet of the Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333 includes unknown as of July 2009.
When is Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333 active?
Toothed Idia - Hodges#8333: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to September in Maryland; July and August in Quebec [Handfield].