Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978
Nycteola metaspilella
This record describes Nycteola metaspilella (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: based on Internet photos linked to below, forewing light gray with blackish wedge-shaped claviform spot being the most prominent and darkest marking; basal, AM, PM, and subterminal lines jagged or wavy, indistinct and often broken or partial; slightly darker shading in upper median area; no black at base of wing; overall, a poorly-contrasting washed out version of Nycteola frigidana ; hindwing dirty white to pale gray, darker near outer margin; fringe pale Larva: body yellowish-green, smooth, elongate, cylindrical with long soft hairs; longest dorsal hairs (D2) nearly three times length of segment that bears them; hairs especially long rearward; body translucent with deep green heart stripe and pale spiracular stripe which is in fact the internal tracheal trunk; spiracles pale brown, very small [adapted from description by David Wagner]
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
stream edges, forest edges, fields
Geographic Range
Ontario and New York to Florida; distribution not known with certainty due to historic confusion with Nycteola frigidana
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September mature larvae present in June/July and again in August/September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of willow and poplar
Life History
two generations per year; overwinters as an adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nycteola metaspilella. 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 Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978
What is Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978?
Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978 (Nycteola metaspilella) is a species in the family Nolidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978?
wingspan about 23 mm, based on photos by Jim Vargo at MPG larva length to 25 mm
How do you identify Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978?
Adult: based on Internet photos linked to below, forewing light gray with blackish wedge-shaped claviform spot being the most prominent and darkest marking; basal, AM, PM, and subterminal lines jagged or wavy, indistinct and often broken or partial; slightly darker shading in upper median area; no black at base of wing; overall, a poorly-contrasting washed out version of Nycteola frigidana ; hindwing dirty white to pale gray, darker near outer margin; fringe pale Larva: body yellowish-green, smooth, elongate, cylindrical with long soft hairs; longest dorsal hairs (D2) nearly three times length of segment that bears them; hairs especially long rearward; body translucent with deep green heart stripe and pale spiracular stripe which is in fact the internal tracheal trunk; spiracles pale brown, very small [adapted from description by David Wagner]
Where is Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | stream edges, forest edges, fields |
| Range | Ontario and New York to Florida; distribution not known with certainty due to historic confusion with Nycteola frigidana |
What does Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978 eat?
The diet of the Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978 includes larvae feed on leaves of willow and poplar.
When is Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978 active?
Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September mature larvae present in June/July and again in August/September.
What is the life cycle of a Forgotten Frigid Owlet - Hodges#8978?
two generations per year; overwinters as an adult