Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917
Lithophane fagina
This record describes Lithophane fagina (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing uniformly light to medium gray with faint black streaks; hoary white strip along basal two-thirds of costa is diagnostic; hindwing dirty yellowish-white with gray veins and pale fringe Larva: body densely speckled pale green
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Lithophane (Pinions)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
deciduous woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south in the east to Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from late March to early June and again from September through October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed mainly on leaves of Paper Birch ( Betula papyrifera ); occasionally on Gray Birch ( B. populifolia ) and Pin Cherry ( Prunus pensylvanica ) [Handfield, 1999]
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as an adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: HOARY PINION: refers to the hoary white strip along the costa of the forewing
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane fagina. 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 Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917
What is Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917?
Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917 (Lithophane fagina) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917?
wingspan about 40 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917?
Adult: forewing uniformly light to medium gray with faint black streaks; hoary white strip along basal two-thirds of costa is diagnostic; hindwing dirty yellowish-white with gray veins and pale fringe Larva: body densely speckled pale green
Where is Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | deciduous woods; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait |
| Range | Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south in the east to Pennsylvania and New Jersey |
What does Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917 eat?
The diet of the Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917 includes larvae feed mainly on leaves of Paper Birch ( Betula papyrifera ); occasionally on Gray Birch ( B. populifolia ) and Pin Cherry ( Prunus pensylvanica ) [Handfield, 1999].
When is Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917 active?
Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917: seasonal activity - adults fly from late March to early June and again from September through October.
What is the life cycle of a Hoary Pinion - Hodges#9917?
one generation per year; overwinters as an adult