Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491
Ledaea perditalis
This record describes Ledaea perditalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
FW pale grayish brown to tan. PM line blackish, thick in lower half in male, but all the way to apex in female. Variable lines and shading on outer margin of HW.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Pangraptinae
- Genus
- Ledaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
edges of wet woods and marshes where food plants grow
Geographic Range
Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Wisconsin and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to August in the south; late May to August in the north
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on the sedge Scirpus cyperinus (Woolgrass) and Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
Life History
one generation per year Life cycle images: larva; larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ledaea perditalis. 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 Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491
What is Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491?
Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491 (Ledaea perditalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491?
23-26 mm wingspan
How do you identify Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491?
FW pale grayish brown to tan. PM line blackish, thick in lower half in male, but all the way to apex in female. Variable lines and shading on outer margin of HW.
Where is Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | edges of wet woods and marshes where food plants grow |
| Range | Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Wisconsin and Ontario |
What does Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491 eat?
The diet of the Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491 includes larvae feed on the sedge Scirpus cyperinus (Woolgrass) and Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush).
When is Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491 active?
Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to August in the south; late May to August in the north.
What is the life cycle of a Lost Owlet - Hodges#8491?
one generation per year Life cycle images: larva; larva; adult