Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953
Mesogona olivata
This record describes Mesogona olivata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Detailed description available in link to the Mesogona revision linked below under citations. From the key to adult species - hindwing gray or with gray suffusion.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Mesogona
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
semi-desert to mesic forest
Geographic Range
widely distributed in western North America - British Columbia to southern California and east to Idaho, western Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas
Seasonal Activity
August to November
Diet and Behavior
Diet: deciduous shrubs and trees
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mesogona olivata. 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 Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953
What is Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953?
Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953 (Mesogona olivata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953?
forewing length 15-20 mm
How do you identify Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953?
Detailed description available in link to the Mesogona revision linked below under citations. From the key to adult species - hindwing gray or with gray suffusion.
Where is Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | semi-desert to mesic forest |
| Range | widely distributed in western North America - British Columbia to southern California and east to Idaho, western Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas |
What does Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953 eat?
The diet of the Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953 includes deciduous shrubs and trees.
When is Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953 active?
Mesogona olivata - Hodges#9953: seasonal activity - August to November.