Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048
Parabagrotis insularis
This record describes Parabagrotis insularis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This is the smallest and darkest of the five species of Parabagrotis . There is a narrow black transverse line near the top of the prothoracic collar, with the rest of the prothoracic collar more or less the same color as the forewings. Colors can vary from blackish, dark-gray, and reddish-brown. There is sometimes a weak yellowish or buff line partially surrounding the orbicular and reniform spots. Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Parabagrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Occurs along Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California, east to Idaho.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been found from April to October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Little is known of the larval stages.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: insularis refers to Vancouver Island where it is common
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Parabagrotis insularis. 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 Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson , Steve Nanz , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048
What is Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048?
Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048 (Parabagrotis insularis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048?
Forewing length 13-16 mm
How do you identify Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048?
This is the smallest and darkest of the five species of Parabagrotis . There is a narrow black transverse line near the top of the prothoracic collar, with the rest of the prothoracic collar more or less the same color as the forewings. Colors can vary from blackish, dark-gray, and reddish-brown. There is sometimes a weak yellowish or buff line partially surrounding the orbicular and reniform spots. Genitalia:
Where is Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048 found?
Range: Occurs along Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California, east to Idaho.
When is Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048 active?
Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048: seasonal activity - Adults have been found from April to October..
What is the life cycle of a Parabagrotis insularis - Hodges#11048?
Little is known of the larval stages.