Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415
Mycterophora longipalpata
This record describes Mycterophora longipalpata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: broad-winged grayish-brown moth resembling a geometrid (and originally placed in family Geometridae); forewing heavily speckled, somewhat blotchy, crossed by three slightly wavy indistinct lines; PM line with very small teeth, almost smooth; reniform spot black, kidney-shaped; orbicular spot black, oval, small; slightly paler yellowish-brown strip along costa does not extend past PM line; hindwing color and pattern similar to forewing, with black discal lunule; male antennae broadly pectinate, sexes otherwise similar
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Boletobiinae
- Tribe
- Boletobiini
- Genus
- Mycterophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
woodlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in July and August in California
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mycterophora longipalpata. 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 Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415
What is Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415?
Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415 (Mycterophora longipalpata) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415?
wingspan estimate 22-28 mm, based on photo of unnamed species by Jim Vargo, and data on M. inexplicata at U. of Alberta
How do you identify Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415?
Adult: broad-winged grayish-brown moth resembling a geometrid (and originally placed in family Geometridae); forewing heavily speckled, somewhat blotchy, crossed by three slightly wavy indistinct lines; PM line with very small teeth, almost smooth; reniform spot black, kidney-shaped; orbicular spot black, oval, small; slightly paler yellowish-brown strip along costa does not extend past PM line; hindwing color and pattern similar to forewing, with black discal lunule; male antennae broadly pectinate, sexes otherwise similar
Where is Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | woodlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | British Columbia to California |
When is Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415 active?
Long-palped Mycterophora - Hodges#8415: seasonal activity - adults fly in July and August in California.