Small Brocade - Hodges#9416
Oligia minuscula
This record describes Oligia minuscula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with pale gray terminal band and another pale band outside AM line; typical form has black bar from claviform spot to PM line (absent in form grahami); reniform and orbicular spots dark with pale outline; blackish patch between orbicular spot and AM line, between reniform and orbicular spots, and along costa in subterminal area; hindwing dark grayish-brown, paler toward base
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Oligia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
sphagnum bogs
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Manitoba and adjacent northern states, south to Massachusetts
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in August and September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host unknown Handfield reports adults nectaring on goldenrod ( Solidago ) during the day, and also coming to light at night
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oligia minuscula. 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 Small Brocade - Hodges#9416 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Brocade - Hodges#9416
What is Small Brocade - Hodges#9416?
Small Brocade - Hodges#9416 (Oligia minuscula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Small Brocade - Hodges#9416?
Adult: forewing grayish-brown with pale gray terminal band and another pale band outside AM line; typical form has black bar from claviform spot to PM line (absent in form grahami); reniform and orbicular spots dark with pale outline; blackish patch between orbicular spot and AM line, between reniform and orbicular spots, and along costa in subterminal area; hindwing dark grayish-brown, paler toward base
Where is Small Brocade - Hodges#9416 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sphagnum bogs |
| Range | Newfoundland to Manitoba and adjacent northern states, south to Massachusetts |
What does Small Brocade - Hodges#9416 eat?
The diet of the Small Brocade - Hodges#9416 includes larval host unknown Handfield reports adults nectaring on goldenrod ( Solidago ) during the day, and also coming to light at night.
When is Small Brocade - Hodges#9416 active?
Small Brocade - Hodges#9416: seasonal activity - adults fly in August and September.