Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651
Lesmone detrahens
This record describes Lesmone detrahens (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark purplish-gray to brown with pointed apex; lines darker but often inconspicuous; PM line fine, sharply bent just below costa; ST line broad, dark gray, straight on basal side, irregular on outer side with broad tooth at about mid-point; paler strip between PM and ST lines; pattern less distinct in female; hindwing with similar color and pattern but apex not pointed
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Erebinae
- Tribe
- Omopterini
- Genus
- Lesmone
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern USA to central TX. Type locality: FL
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Apr-Sep (BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval foodplant unrecorded but might be various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae); the related species Lesmone formularis is known to feed on Cassia species and sensitive plant ( Mimosa spp.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lesmone detrahens. 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 Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651
What is Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651?
Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651 (Lesmone detrahens) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651?
wingspan 27-31 mm
How do you identify Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651?
Adult: forewing dark purplish-gray to brown with pointed apex; lines darker but often inconspicuous; PM line fine, sharply bent just below costa; ST line broad, dark gray, straight on basal side, irregular on outer side with broad tooth at about mid-point; paler strip between PM and ST lines; pattern less distinct in female; hindwing with similar color and pattern but apex not pointed
Where is Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651 found?
Range: Eastern USA to central TX. Type locality: FL
What does Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651 eat?
The diet of the Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651 includes larval foodplant unrecorded but might be various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae); the related species Lesmone formularis is known to feed on Cassia species and sensitive plant ( Mimosa spp.).
When is Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651 active?
Detracted Owlet - Hodges#8651: seasonal activity - mostly: Apr-Sep (BG data).