Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889
Lithophane petulca
This record describes Lithophane petulca (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Adult has a light and dark form.
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
Geographic Range
Coast to coast in southern Canada and all of US except the southeast (Florida and adjacent states). Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly much of the year.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: Quercus borealis L. (red oak) * USDA plant profile Prunus virginiana L. (chokeberry) * USDA plant profile
Life History
Two generations per year.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lithophane petulca. 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 Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889
How do you identify Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889?
Adult has a light and dark form.
Where is Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889 found?
Range: Coast to coast in southern Canada and all of US except the southeast (Florida and adjacent states). Bug Guide - range map with monthly record of photos submitted to the guide. Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889 eat?
The diet of the Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889 includes Larval hosts include: Quercus borealis L. (red oak) * USDA plant profile Prunus virginiana L. (chokeberry) * USDA plant profile.
When is Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889 active?
Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889: seasonal activity - Adults fly much of the year..
What is the life cycle of a Wanton Pinion - Hodges#9889?
Two generations per year.