Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975
Nycteola frigidana
This record describes Nycteola frigidana (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Nolidae (Nolid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chloephorinae
- Genus
- Nycteola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open deciduous woodland and shrub ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
Seasonal Activity
adults are on the wing in late summer and fall and again in spring, and apparently overwinter ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is willow , sometimes poplar ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
Life History
The larvae form colonies in leaves tied together in a silk web, although individuals may be found as well. Adults are apparently only poorly attracted to light, and may be much commoner than light trap collections indicate (from E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nycteola frigidana. 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 Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975
How big is Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975?
forewing length 1.1 - 1.3 cm
How do you identify Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975?
Genitalia:
Where is Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975 found?
Habitat: Open deciduous woodland and shrub ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )
What does Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975 eat?
The diet of the Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975 includes larval host is willow , sometimes poplar ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum ).
When is Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975 active?
Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975: seasonal activity - adults are on the wing in late summer and fall and again in spring, and apparently overwinter ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum ).
What is the life cycle of a Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8975?
The larvae form colonies in leaves tied together in a silk web, although individuals may be found as well. Adults are apparently only poorly attracted to light, and may be much commoner than light trap collections indicate (from E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum )