Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281
Polia nugatis
This record describes Polia nugatis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smith (1898) original description as Mamestra nugatis is available online in the print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Polia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Colorado, British Columbia and Alberta. ( 4 ) , ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from July to September. ( 5 ) , ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host plant is Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (big sagebrush) Asteraceae. ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polia nugatis. 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 Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281
What is Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281?
Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281 (Polia nugatis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281?
The forewing length is 19-24 mm. ( 3 ) Smith (1898) listed the wingspan as 44 mm.
How do you identify Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281?
Smith (1898) original description as Mamestra nugatis is available online in the print references.
Where is Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281 found?
Range: California to Colorado, British Columbia and Alberta. ( 4 ) , ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281 eat?
The diet of the Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281 includes The larval host plant is Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (big sagebrush) Asteraceae. ( 3 ).
When is Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281 active?
Polia nugatis - Hodges#10281: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from July to September. ( 5 ) , ( 3 ).