Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1
Leucania solita
This record describes Leucania solita (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Medium sized, pale moth. Distinguished from other noctuids by its forwing pattern: a long dark dash delimited above by a white line, running from base to middle. One source discussing the species in Mexico said that the color or the wings can vary considerably. Genitalia: ♂ Easily confused with Leucania adjuta . A hindwing view may be necessary for positive identification. It is my observation, although nothing is mentioned in the identification of L. adjuta , is that L. adjuta usually has heavily tufted legs and L. humidicola does not. (Ann Hendrickson)
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
USA: CA, TX.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Sporobolus virginicus
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Leucania solita Walker, 1856 is treated as a full species in Troubridge (2020).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leucania solita. 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 solita - Hodges#10458.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by A. Hendrickson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1
What is Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1?
Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1 (Leucania solita) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1?
Medium sized, pale moth. Distinguished from other noctuids by its forwing pattern: a long dark dash delimited above by a white line, running from base to middle. One source discussing the species in Mexico said that the color or the wings can vary considerably. Genitalia: ♂
Where is Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1 found?
Range: USA: CA, TX.
What does Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1 eat?
The diet of the Leucania solita - Hodges#10458.1 includes Sporobolus virginicus.