Iris Borer - Hodges#9452
Macronoctua onusta
This record describes Macronoctua onusta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing brown with darker brown or gray margins; AM and PM lines thin, black, and zigzagged; wingtips with several concave scallops; hindwing uniformly pale brown Genitalia: much information on caterpillar damage and control on the web; see Internet Reference links below
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Macronoctua
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
eastern US and southeastern Canada, plus British Columbia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in September and October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae bore into iris plants and feed on the rhizomes
Life History
see Internet Reference links below Larva; Pupa; Adult:
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macronoctua onusta. 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 Iris Borer - Hodges#9452 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Iris Borer - Hodges#9452
What is Iris Borer - Hodges#9452?
Iris Borer - Hodges#9452 (Macronoctua onusta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Iris Borer - Hodges#9452?
forewing brown with darker brown or gray margins; AM and PM lines thin, black, and zigzagged; wingtips with several concave scallops; hindwing uniformly pale brown Genitalia:
Where is Iris Borer - Hodges#9452 found?
Range: eastern US and southeastern Canada, plus British Columbia
What does Iris Borer - Hodges#9452 eat?
The diet of the Iris Borer - Hodges#9452 includes larvae bore into iris plants and feed on the rhizomes.
When is Iris Borer - Hodges#9452 active?
Iris Borer - Hodges#9452: seasonal activity - adults fly in September and October.
What is the life cycle of a Iris Borer - Hodges#9452?
see Internet Reference links below Larva; Pupa; Adult: