Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888
Lithophane innominata
This record describes Lithophane innominata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish-tan with dark brown median shade and subterminal line; very diffuse blackish subreniform spot, often with irregular outline; two blackish blotches in terminal area; pairs of small black dashes on veins form AM and PM lines; hindwing solid dark gray with pale fringe [adapted from description by Charles Covell] Larva: body light or dark brown to gray or steel blue, often with middorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular stripes; middorsal stripe often reddish brown to rusty; dorsum usually marked with vague dark chevrons, darkest on A8; head brown with darker mottling and dark bar to either side of midline; penultimate instar has broad creamy spiracular stripe, broken middorsal stripe that is thickest between segments, and subdorsal stripe composed of whitish spots [adapted from description by David Wagner et al ] genitalia
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
mixed and deciduous forests and woodlots; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait
Geographic Range
across southern Canada and northern United States, south in the east to Georgia (in mountains)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from September to November, and again from February to May (April to June in the north) larvae usually in June and July; sometimes as early as April
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, apple, basswood, birch, cherry, fir, hawthorn, hemlock, hickory, hornbeam, maple, oak, pine, spruce, willow, and many other woody plants
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as an adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane innominata. 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 Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888
What is Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888?
Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888 (Lithophane innominata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888?
wingspan 35-39 mm larvae to 35 mm
How do you identify Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888?
Adult: forewing yellowish-tan with dark brown median shade and subterminal line; very diffuse blackish subreniform spot, often with irregular outline; two blackish blotches in terminal area; pairs of small black dashes on veins form AM and PM lines; hindwing solid dark gray with pale fringe [adapted from description by Charles Covell] Larva: body light or dark brown to gray or steel blue, often with middorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular stripes; middorsal stripe often reddish brown to rusty; dorsum usually marked with vague dark chevrons, darkest on A8; head brown with darker mottling and dark bar to either side of midline; penultimate instar has broad creamy spiracular stripe, broken middorsal stripe that is thickest between segments, and subdorsal stripe composed of whitish spots [adapted from description by David Wagner et al ] genitalia
Where is Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mixed and deciduous forests and woodlots; adults are nocturnal and come to light and bait |
| Range | across southern Canada and northern United States, south in the east to Georgia (in mountains) |
What does Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888 eat?
The diet of the Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, apple, basswood, birch, cherry, fir, hawthorn, hemlock, hickory, hornbeam, maple, oak, pine, spruce, willow, and many other woody plants.
When is Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888 active?
Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888: seasonal activity - adults fly from September to November, and again from February to May (April to June in the north) larvae usually in June and July; sometimes as early as April.
What is the life cycle of a Nameless Pinion - Hodges#9888?
one generation per year; overwinters as an adult