Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428
Meropleon ambifusca
This record describes Meropleon ambifusca (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The FW is gray with the basal or inner half dark gray and heavily shaded with black, especially toward the inner margin. The outer half of the FW is whitish shaded with light gray. The HW is whitish and pale gray. 1 Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Meropleon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The typical habitat for Newman's brocade is a marshy wetland although at present, the host plant and the larval stages of this species have not yet been described. The larvae are probably borers in an aquatic sedge or rush. Other habitats with which this species is associated include prairies, fens, ephemeral wetlands and forest openings. 1
Seasonal Activity
Flight from 3rd week of August to 4th week of September 1
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, list this as 932414 Meropleon ambifusca (Newman, 1948)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Meropleon ambifusca. 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 Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Chuck Entz , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428
What is Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428?
Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428 (Meropleon ambifusca) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428?
The Newman's Brocade has an average wingspan of 30mm. 1
How do you identify Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428?
The FW is gray with the basal or inner half dark gray and heavily shaded with black, especially toward the inner margin. The outer half of the FW is whitish shaded with light gray. The HW is whitish and pale gray. 1 Genitalia:
Where is Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428 found?
Habitat: The typical habitat for Newman's brocade is a marshy wetland although at present, the host plant and the larval stages of this species have not yet been described. The larvae are probably borers in an aquatic sedge or rush. Other habitats with which this species is associated include prairies, fens, ephemeral wetlands and forest openings. 1
When is Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428 active?
Newman's Brocade Moth - Hodges#9428: seasonal activity - Flight from 3rd week of August to 4th week of September 1.