Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216
Opsigalea blanchardi
This record describes Opsigalea blanchardi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing light yellowish-brown on upper (costal) half, gray on lower half, with thin black streaks separating the halves; large blackish blotch near anal angle, bordered basally by black semicircle (which constitutes the lower part of the PM line); hindwing white basally, shading to gray distally, with conspicuous dark-scaled veins; overall, resembles a boldly-marked Cucullia species. Larva - light green above, with several faint longitudinal lines; darker green and unmarked below; last abdominal segment longer than others and containing a dorsal keel. Type Locality: Alpine (Brewster County) Texas on 9 September 1963.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cuculliinae
- Genus
- Opsigalea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
AZ, TX
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Rio Grande butterflybush ( Buddleja sessiliflora , Buddlejaceae).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Patronym for Andre Blanchard (1896-1986), a moth enthusiast and researcher from Texas.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Opsigalea blanchardi. 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 Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216
What is Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216?
Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216 (Opsigalea blanchardi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216?
Forewing length 15-17 mm.
How do you identify Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216?
Adult - forewing light yellowish-brown on upper (costal) half, gray on lower half, with thin black streaks separating the halves; large blackish blotch near anal angle, bordered basally by black semicircle (which constitutes the lower part of the PM line); hindwing white basally, shading to gray distally, with conspicuous dark-scaled veins; overall, resembles a boldly-marked Cucullia species. Larva - light green above, with several faint longitudinal lines; darker green and unmarked below; last abdominal segment longer than others and containing a dorsal keel.
Where is Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216 found?
Range: AZ, TX
What does Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216 eat?
The diet of the Opsigalea Moth - Hodges#10216 includes Larvae feed on Rio Grande butterflybush ( Buddleja sessiliflora , Buddlejaceae)..