Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891
Ochropleura implecta
This record describes Ochropleura implecta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing reddish-brown edged with cream along costa from base to reniform spot; black basal dash and bar extend through gray orbicular and reniform spots hindwing white with yellowish-brown terminal line and shading at apex [description by Charles Covell] This species was described in 1998 by Don Lafontaine, who distinguished it from the very similar Ochropleura plecta (Flame Shoulder) which occurs only in Eurasia, and was described by Linnaeus in 1761. A number of Internet sites still incorrectly refer to the North American moth as Ochropleura plecta .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Ochropleura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to South Carolina, west to Arizona, north to British Columbia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on various plants, including beet, clover, chicory, willow
Life History
two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ochropleura implecta. 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 Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , John Davis , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891
What is Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891?
Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891 (Ochropleura implecta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891?
wingspan 25-32 mm
How do you identify Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891?
forewing reddish-brown edged with cream along costa from base to reniform spot; black basal dash and bar extend through gray orbicular and reniform spots hindwing white with yellowish-brown terminal line and shading at apex [description by Charles Covell]
Where is Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891 found?
Range: Newfoundland to South Carolina, west to Arizona, north to British Columbia
What does Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891 eat?
The diet of the Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891 includes larvae feed on various plants, including beet, clover, chicory, willow.
When is Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891 active?
Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Flame-shouldered Dart - Hodges#10891?
two generations per year