Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406
Mesapamea fractilinea
This record describes Mesapamea fractilinea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing usually dark brown to blackish along costa, upper median area, and outer margin, and pale brown to yellowish in remaining areas; reniform spot white with black mottling; terminal line with several pale dots; hindwing brownish-gray with yellowish fringe Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Mesapamea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
New Brunswick to Florida, west to Arizona and Utah, north to Alberta; type specimen collected in Nebraska
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September larvae in late spring and early summer
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on timothy ( Phleum spp.) and are sometimes a pest on corn plants
Life History
one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Grote, 1874
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mesapamea fractilinea. 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 Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406
What is Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406?
Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406 (Mesapamea fractilinea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406?
wingspan 26-33 mm, based on two Internet photos
How do you identify Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406?
Adult: forewing usually dark brown to blackish along costa, upper median area, and outer margin, and pale brown to yellowish in remaining areas; reniform spot white with black mottling; terminal line with several pale dots; hindwing brownish-gray with yellowish fringe Genitalia:
Where is Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406 found?
Range: New Brunswick to Florida, west to Arizona and Utah, north to Alberta; type specimen collected in Nebraska
What does Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406 eat?
The diet of the Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406 includes larvae feed on timothy ( Phleum spp.) and are sometimes a pest on corn plants.
When is Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406 active?
Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September larvae in late spring and early summer.
What is the life cycle of a Broken-lined Brocade - Hodges#9406?
one generation per year