Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589
Properigea costa
This record describes Properigea costa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Moths of North Carolina and other sources suggest that the fairly common western entity of this species may be a distinct species from the disjunct rare eastern population.
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
Occurs in two disjunct populations, one in the Southwest, where it is fairly common from AZ through western OK and TX, and another in the east, where it is rarely encountered and associated mainly with shale barrens from the southern Appalachians northward into Ontario and Quebec. Recent Lepidopterist Society Season Summary reports from New Mexico, Oklahoma and Georgia. Originally described from Arizona, Cochise Co., Huachuca Mts. Moth Photographers Group map
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown, but likely feeds on some sort of fern according to the Moths of North Carolina site.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Properigea costa. 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 Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589
What is Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589?
Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589 (Properigea costa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589?
Wingspan 27-35 mm.
Where is Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589 found?
Range: Occurs in two disjunct populations, one in the Southwest, where it is fairly common from AZ through western OK and TX, and another in the east, where it is rarely encountered and associated mainly with shale barrens from the southern Appalachians northward into Ontario and Quebec. Recent Lepidopterist Society Season Summary reports from New Mexico, Oklahoma and Georgia. Originally described from Arizona, Cochise Co., Huachuca Mts. Moth Photographers Group map
What does Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589 eat?
The diet of the Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589 includes Unknown, but likely feeds on some sort of fern according to the Moths of North Carolina site..
When is Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589 active?
Barrens Moth - Hodges#9589: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to October..