White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953
Plusia venusta
This record describes Plusia venusta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Plusia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wet meadows and grassy wetland edges usually associated with woodlands; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light (E.H. Strickland Museum).
Geographic Range
Northern United States and most of Canada: Newfoundland to Washington D.C., west through South Dakota and Montana to British Columbia, north to Northwest Territories.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from June to August (Covell, 1984)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Swamp sedges and grasses (Forbes, 1954).
Life History
One generation per year (Covell, 1984) Larva
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: VENUSTA: from the adjective "venust" (beautiful), from Venus, a very beautiful woman in Roman mythology; refers to the elegant appearance of the moth's forewings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plusia venusta. 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 White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953
How big is White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953?
wingspan 30-35 mm (Covell, 1984)
Where is White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Wet meadows and grassy wetland edges usually associated with woodlands; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light (E.H. Strickland Museum). |
| Range | Northern United States and most of Canada: Newfoundland to Washington D.C., west through South Dakota and Montana to British Columbia, north to Northwest Territories. |
What does White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953 eat?
The diet of the White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953 includes Larvae feed on Swamp sedges and grasses (Forbes, 1954)..
When is White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953 active?
White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953: seasonal activity - Adults fly from June to August (Covell, 1984).
What is the life cycle of a White-streaked Looper - Hodges#8953?
One generation per year (Covell, 1984) Larva