Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455
Leucania scirpicola
This record describes Leucania scirpicola (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
FW flesh-colored to brownish and smooth appearance. A diffuse dark brown streak runs longitudinally from the base of the wing to the small, white discal dot where veins diverge. PM represented by a series of small, black dots. HW is hyaline white, with grayish-brown outer margin.
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
Geographic Range
New England to Florida, west to Kentucky and Texas. Covell includes Nova Scotia within the range but scirpicola is not on the Moths of Canada list of eastern Leucania species
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on grasses
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leucania scirpicola. 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 Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Jeff Hollenbeck , Chuck Entz , Robert Lord Zimlich , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455
What is Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455?
Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455 (Leucania scirpicola) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455?
33-40mm WS 18-21mm TL
How do you identify Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455?
FW flesh-colored to brownish and smooth appearance. A diffuse dark brown streak runs longitudinally from the base of the wing to the small, white discal dot where veins diverge. PM represented by a series of small, black dots. HW is hyaline white, with grayish-brown outer margin.
Where is Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455 found?
Range: New England to Florida, west to Kentucky and Texas. Covell includes Nova Scotia within the range but scirpicola is not on the Moths of Canada list of eastern Leucania species
What does Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455 eat?
The diet of the Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455 includes larvae feed on grasses.
When is Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455 active?
Scirpus Wainscot - Hodges#10455: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to October.