Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418
Oligia obtusa
This record describes Oligia obtusa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Original description as Helotropha obtusa Smith. , Adult: The darker median area is trapezoid shaped. Reniform and orbicular spots lined with light scales. Hindwing is brownish gray with a diffused darker discal spot.
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
Geographic Range
Across southern Canada and northern United States extending into much of the northern half of the eastern states. Has been recorded in Arizona. ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
Most records are from July through September. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is unknown but suspected to be grasses (Poaceae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oligia obtusa. 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 Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418
What is Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418?
Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418 (Oligia obtusa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418?
Forewing length 12-13 mm
How do you identify Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418?
Original description as Helotropha obtusa Smith. , Adult: The darker median area is trapezoid shaped. Reniform and orbicular spots lined with light scales. Hindwing is brownish gray with a diffused darker discal spot.
Where is Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418 found?
Range: Across southern Canada and northern United States extending into much of the northern half of the eastern states. Has been recorded in Arizona. ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with some collection dates.
What does Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418 eat?
The diet of the Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418 includes Larval host is unknown but suspected to be grasses (Poaceae)..
When is Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418 active?
Oligia obtusa - Hodges#9418: seasonal activity - Most records are from July through September. ( 4 ).