Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533
Paraseptis adnixa
This record describes Paraseptis adnixa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Three forms/subspecies; Pacific Northwest, coastal CA, and east-central CA. See Mustelin & Crabo for updated descriptions. Adult: forewing mottled medium and pale brown with blackish basal and anal dashes surrounded by dark shading; conspicuous pale yellowish patch along distal edge of reniform spot; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots brown, outlined in black; AM and PM lines pale, outlined in black; subterminal line pale, irregular; terminal line thin, black; fringe pale, slightly scalloped, with dark semicircular patches between veins; hindwing brownish-gray with dark discal spot and noticeably irregular outer margin Larva: body medium brown on upper half, paler brown on lower half with pale middorsal line and indistinct dorsal chevrons Aseptis pausis was synonymized with A. adnixa which was in turn moved to genus Paraseptis (gen. n.) in Mustelin & Crabo .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Paraseptis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Pacific coast from BC to Mexico with colonies just east of the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and British Columbia Coast Mountains.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from April to June in CA, mid-May to August in the Pacific Northwest. larvae in March and April in British Columbia
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on young terminal leaves of Indian Plum ( Oemleria cerasiformis )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Paraseptis adnixa. 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 Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533
What is Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533?
Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533 (Paraseptis adnixa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533?
Three forms/subspecies; Pacific Northwest, coastal CA, and east-central CA. See Mustelin & Crabo for updated descriptions. Adult: forewing mottled medium and pale brown with blackish basal and anal dashes surrounded by dark shading; conspicuous pale yellowish patch along distal edge of reniform spot; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots brown, outlined in black; AM and PM lines pale, outlined in black; subterminal line pale, irregular; terminal line thin, black; fringe pale, slightly scalloped, with dark semicircular patches between veins; hindwing brownish-gray with dark discal spot and noticeably irregular outer margin Larva: body medium brown on upper half, paler brown on lower half with pale middorsal line and indistinct dorsal chevrons
Where is Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533 found?
Range: Pacific coast from BC to Mexico with colonies just east of the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and British Columbia Coast Mountains.
What does Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533 eat?
The diet of the Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533 includes larvae feed on young terminal leaves of Indian Plum ( Oemleria cerasiformis ).
When is Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533 active?
Paraseptis adnixa - Hodges#9533: seasonal activity - Adults fly from April to June in CA, mid-May to August in the Pacific Northwest. larvae in March and April in British Columbia.