Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1
Magusa divaricata
This record describes Magusa divaricata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Dypterygiini
- Genus
- Magusa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California across the southern states to Florida and south into the American tropics. The adults stray north to Colorado, Manitoba and Maine from July to November. . Also in southern NB (July) AWT, and October 6 2024.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly year round in the southern areas and July through November in the northern areas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Carolina Buckthorn - Frangula [= Rhamnus] caroliniana (Rhamnaceae) - per Berry Nall. Several iNaturalist records also document larvae on other Rhamnaceae such as Coyotillo, Karwinskia humboldtiana and Condalia sp. in south, west, and central Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Magusa divaricata. 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 Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1
How big is Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1?
Forewing length 15-19 mm.
Where is Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1 found?
Range: Southern California across the southern states to Florida and south into the American tropics. The adults stray north to Colorado, Manitoba and Maine from July to November. . Also in southern NB (July) AWT, and October 6 2024.
What does Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1 eat?
The diet of the Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1 includes Carolina Buckthorn - Frangula [= Rhamnus] caroliniana (Rhamnaceae) - per Berry Nall. Several iNaturalist records also document larvae on other Rhamnaceae such as Coyotillo, Karwinskia humboldtiana and Condalia sp. in south, west, and central Texas..
When is Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1 active?
Orbed Narrow-wing - Hodges#9637.1: seasonal activity - Adults fly year round in the southern areas and July through November in the northern areas..