Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434
Photedes includens
This record describes Photedes includens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing orangish-brown with paler straight subterminal band; reniform spot white, conspicuous, C-shaped, with short white bar in middle; hindwing light brownish-gray, paler toward base, with dark veins, thin dark terminal line, and pale fringe uncommon and local throughout range; a species of special concern in wet prairie habitats of some midwestern states
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Photedes (Cordgrass Borers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wet meadows and edges of wetlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to Connecticut, west to Nebraska and Alberta; type specimen collected in Nova Scotia
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from late June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae bore in stems of cordgrass ( Spartina spp.) and some sedges such as Upright Sedge ( Carex stricta )
Life History
one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Photedes includens. 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 Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434
What is Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434?
Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434 (Photedes includens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434?
wingspan about 25 mm
How do you identify Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434?
Adult: forewing orangish-brown with paler straight subterminal band; reniform spot white, conspicuous, C-shaped, with short white bar in middle; hindwing light brownish-gray, paler toward base, with dark veins, thin dark terminal line, and pale fringe
Where is Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wet meadows and edges of wetlands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Nova Scotia to Connecticut, west to Nebraska and Alberta; type specimen collected in Nova Scotia |
What does Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434 eat?
The diet of the Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434 includes larvae bore in stems of cordgrass ( Spartina spp.) and some sedges such as Upright Sedge ( Carex stricta ).
When is Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434 active?
Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434: seasonal activity - adults fly from late June to September.
What is the life cycle of a Included Cordgrass Borer - Hodges#9434?
one generation per year