Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338
Phalaenophana pyramusalis
This record describes Phalaenophana pyramusalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing ground color light gray, yellowish, or brownish; antemedial and postmedial areas each crossed by a broad band of darker color (sometimes with a greenish tint); reniform spot has a dark dot on each side, and orbicular spot has another black dot - these 3 dots form a triangular pattern near the middle of the wing; the dark-bordered pale subterminal line is jagged or wavy
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Herminiinae
- Genus
- Phalaenophana
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
North America east of the Rockies
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April through August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on dead leaves
Life History
larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phalaenophana pyramusalis. 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 Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Chuck Entz , marcie oconnor , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338
What is Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338?
Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338 (Phalaenophana pyramusalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338?
wingspan 20-25 mm
How do you identify Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338?
forewing ground color light gray, yellowish, or brownish; antemedial and postmedial areas each crossed by a broad band of darker color (sometimes with a greenish tint); reniform spot has a dark dot on each side, and orbicular spot has another black dot - these 3 dots form a triangular pattern near the middle of the wing; the dark-bordered pale subterminal line is jagged or wavy
Where is Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338 found?
Range: North America east of the Rockies
What does Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338 eat?
The diet of the Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338 includes larvae feed on dead leaves.
When is Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338 active?
Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338: seasonal activity - adults fly from April through August.
What is the life cycle of a Dark-banded Owlet - Hodges#8338?
larva; adult