Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1
Metaxaglaea australis
This record describes Metaxaglaea australis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Original description of Metaxaglaea australis Schweitzer, 1979. (PDF)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Metaxaglaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Texas and Arkansas to South Carolina ( 3 ) and Florida ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) . Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults are from January to April and October to December. ( 6 ) , ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is possibly Quercus L. (oak). ( 5 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metaxaglaea australis. 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 Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1
What is Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1?
Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1 (Metaxaglaea australis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1?
Forewing length 18-21 mm.
How do you identify Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1?
Original description of Metaxaglaea australis Schweitzer, 1979. (PDF)
Where is Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1 found?
Range: Texas and Arkansas to South Carolina ( 3 ) and Florida ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) . Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1 eat?
The diet of the Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1 includes Larval host is possibly Quercus L. (oak). ( 5 ).
When is Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1 active?
Southern Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945.1: seasonal activity - Most records of adults are from January to April and October to December. ( 6 ) , ( 5 ).