Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065
Leuconycta diphteroides
This record describes Leuconycta diphteroides (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing suffused with green (shade may vary from bright green to bluish-green to grayish-green) or rarely all-white; small black rectangular blotch touches costa near base, and another larger blotch half-way along costa, extending inward almost half the wing's width; one form has a number of black lines and spots scattered across the wing surface, whereas the form obliterata is relatively unmarked (see Lynn Scott's examples in links below); hindwing pale grayish with dull yellowish terminal band
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Condicinae
- Tribe
- Leuconyctini
- Genus
- Leuconycta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
fields, open places; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Eastern North America: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Saskatchewan
Seasonal Activity
Mainly univoltine with a partial second generation on Block Island , RI, with adult records from early May through early August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on goldenrod and aster species
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Diphtera is an obsolete name for the genus Moma . Guenée had the entry for that genus right after the original description of this species, and mentioned "Orion" (no doubt Diphtera / Moma orion ) in that description. "diphteroides" therefore probably means "resembling Diphtera"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leuconycta diphteroides. 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 Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Boone , Tony-2 , Chuck Entz , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065
What is Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065?
Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065 (Leuconycta diphteroides) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065?
wingspan 27-32 mm
How do you identify Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065?
Adult: forewing suffused with green (shade may vary from bright green to bluish-green to grayish-green) or rarely all-white; small black rectangular blotch touches costa near base, and another larger blotch half-way along costa, extending inward almost half the wing's width; one form has a number of black lines and spots scattered across the wing surface, whereas the form obliterata is relatively unmarked (see Lynn Scott's examples in links below); hindwing pale grayish with dull yellowish terminal band
Where is Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, open places; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Eastern North America: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Saskatchewan |
What does Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065 eat?
The diet of the Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065 includes larvae feed on goldenrod and aster species.
When is Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065 active?
Green Leuconycta - Hodges#9065: seasonal activity - Mainly univoltine with a partial second generation on Block Island , RI, with adult records from early May through early August..