White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588
Properigea albimacula
This record describes Properigea albimacula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark grayish-brown except for conspicuous white patch in lower half of reniform spot; AM and PM lines toothed, black with pale edging; ST line jagged, indistinct; hindwing gray, paler toward base
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Properigea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia, east to Utah
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to September in California
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: albimacula : from the Latin "albus" (white) + "macula" (a spot); refers to the conspicuous white spot on the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name White-spotted Properigea
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Properigea albimacula. 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-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588
What is White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588?
White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588 (Properigea albimacula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588?
wingspan about 29 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588?
Adult: forewing dark grayish-brown except for conspicuous white patch in lower half of reniform spot; AM and PM lines toothed, black with pale edging; ST line jagged, indistinct; hindwing gray, paler toward base
Where is White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588 found?
Range: California to British Columbia, east to Utah
When is White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588 active?
White-spotted Properigea - Hodges#9588: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to September in California.