Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294
Melanchra pulverulenta
This record describes Melanchra pulverulenta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This species can usually be identified by the combination of a dark olive-gray FW with a uneven but distinct white subterminal line forming a spot near the anal angle. a
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Melanchra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widely distributed across boreal North America. It occurs from Alaska to Newfoundland in the North. The southern limits are New York in the East, Minnesota in the Midwest, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, and California along the Pacific Coast. a
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melanchra pulverulenta. 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 Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich | Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294
What is Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294?
Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294 (Melanchra pulverulenta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294?
FW length 14 - 18 mm a
How do you identify Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294?
This species can usually be identified by the combination of a dark olive-gray FW with a uneven but distinct white subterminal line forming a spot near the anal angle. a
Where is Melanchra pulverulenta - Hodges#10294 found?
Range: Widely distributed across boreal North America. It occurs from Alaska to Newfoundland in the North. The southern limits are New York in the East, Minnesota in the Midwest, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, and California along the Pacific Coast. a