Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945
Metaxaglaea semitaria
This record describes Metaxaglaea semitaria (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Franclemont description is in PDF or read online.
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
Heppner (2003) listed the range to include New Hampshire to Florida and Ohio to Texas. ( 5 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults appear to be most common from September to December, and January to February. ( 6 ) Brou (2003) reported November to early March in Louisiana. ( 7 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults fly during November in Florida. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Brou mentioned the Schweitzer listing of crabapple and blueberry. Heppner listed the larval host plant as Vaccinium (blueberry).
Life History
One generation per year. Schweitzer described the larvae, life cycle and host.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metaxaglaea semitaria. 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 Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945
What is Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945?
Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945 (Metaxaglaea semitaria) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945?
Wingspan range is 40-52 mm, but most specimens are between 46-50 mm.
How do you identify Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945?
Franclemont description is in PDF or read online.
Where is Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) listed the range to include New Hampshire to Florida and Ohio to Texas. ( 5 )
What does Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945 eat?
The diet of the Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945 includes Brou mentioned the Schweitzer listing of crabapple and blueberry. Heppner listed the larval host plant as Vaccinium (blueberry)..
When is Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945 active?
Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945: seasonal activity - Adults appear to be most common from September to December, and January to February. ( 6 ) Brou (2003) reported November to early March in Louisiana. ( 7 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults fly during November in Florida. ( 5 ).
What is the life cycle of a Footpath Sallow Moth - Hodges#9945?
One generation per year. Schweitzer described the larvae, life cycle and host.