Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479
Orthosia transparens
This record describes Orthosia transparens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing uniformly light to dark reddish-brown, rectangular, with sharply-pointed apex; outer margin straight or slightly falcate; reniform spot dark grayish, barely darker than ground color; PM line a gently curving series of dark dots; hindwing dark gray with faint black discal spot and brown fringe; male antennae filiform; head and thorax dark brown, contrasting with lighter grayish abdomen Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Orthosiini
- Genus
- Orthosia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
dry forests
Geographic Range
west coast from British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in late winter and spring
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Madrone ( Arbutus menziesii ) and Rhododendron species
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Orthosia transparens. 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 Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479
What is Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479?
Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479 (Orthosia transparens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479?
wingspan 32-40 mm
How do you identify Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479?
Adult: forewing uniformly light to dark reddish-brown, rectangular, with sharply-pointed apex; outer margin straight or slightly falcate; reniform spot dark grayish, barely darker than ground color; PM line a gently curving series of dark dots; hindwing dark gray with faint black discal spot and brown fringe; male antennae filiform; head and thorax dark brown, contrasting with lighter grayish abdomen Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry forests |
| Range | west coast from British Columbia to California |
What does Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479 eat?
The diet of the Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479 includes larvae feed on leaves of Madrone ( Arbutus menziesii ) and Rhododendron species.
When is Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479 active?
Orthosia transparens - Hodges#10479: seasonal activity - adults fly in late winter and spring.