Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1
Mythimna sequax
This record describes Mythimna sequax (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description is available online. Hindwing is white with contrasting dark veins and dark shading along the outer margin.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Leucaniini
- Genus
- Mythimna
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Texas; southern Florida. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Also occurs in Cuba, Mexico to Argentina. ( 6 ) Holotype collected in Mexico, Jalapa. (Schaus)
Seasonal Activity
January and November records for Florida. March for Texas. ( 7 ) , ( 6 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Triticum (wheat). Also listed as a pest of Oryza (rice). ( 8 )
Life History
Some general life cycle notes in PDF. ( 8 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: sequax Latin word for "following" to descibe the behavior of armyworm larvae. ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mythimna sequax. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1
What is Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1?
Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1 (Mythimna sequax) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1?
The original description is available online. Hindwing is white with contrasting dark veins and dark shading along the outer margin.
Where is Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1 found?
Range: Southern Texas; southern Florida. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) Also occurs in Cuba, Mexico to Argentina. ( 6 ) Holotype collected in Mexico, Jalapa. (Schaus)
What does Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1 eat?
The diet of the Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1 includes Triticum (wheat). Also listed as a pest of Oryza (rice). ( 8 ).
When is Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1 active?
Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1: seasonal activity - January and November records for Florida. March for Texas. ( 7 ) , ( 6 ).
What is the life cycle of a Wheat Armyworm - Hodges#10438.1?
Some general life cycle notes in PDF. ( 8 )