Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1
Leucania lapidaria
This record describes Leucania lapidaria (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewings | forewings appear striate with a white line running from the wing base to a small, black discal dot. The white line is shaded with dark brown. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is white with a few black spots along the outer margin. Genitalia: |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Leucaniini
- Genus
- Leucania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wetlands
Geographic Range
southeastern Canada, Maine south to western Maryland, and west to Ohio and Michigan
Diet and Behavior
Diet: one larval host is thought to be Betula glandulosa (bog or resin birch) usda.gov - plant information
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leucania lapidaria. 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 Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1
What is Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1?
Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1 (Leucania lapidaria) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1?
wingspan about 32 mm
How do you identify Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewings | forewings appear striate with a white line running from the wing base to a small, black discal dot. The white line is shaded with dark brown. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing is white with a few black spots along the outer margin. Genitalia: |
Where is Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wetlands |
| Range | southeastern Canada, Maine south to western Maryland, and west to Ohio and Michigan |
What does Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1 eat?
The diet of the Leucania lapidaria - Hodges#10446.1 includes one larval host is thought to be Betula glandulosa (bog or resin birch) usda.gov - plant information.