Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364
Psammopolia arietis
This record describes Psammopolia arietis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray with thick white scalloped AM and PM lines bordered in black; reniform and orbicular spots large, pale; fringe checkered; hindwing pale yelllowish-gray with whitish median band; top of head and thorax same color as forewing; top of abdomen same color as hindwing
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Eriopygini
- Genus
- Psammopolia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Pacific coastal beaches
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia; type specimen collected in California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on Silky Beach Pea ( Lathyrus littoralis ), Coastal Sand Verbena ( Abronia latifolia ), and Beach Knotweed ( Polygonum paronychia )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Psammopolia arietis. 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 Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chris Grinter , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364
What is Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364?
Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364 (Psammopolia arietis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364?
Adult: forewing light gray with thick white scalloped AM and PM lines bordered in black; reniform and orbicular spots large, pale; fringe checkered; hindwing pale yelllowish-gray with whitish median band; top of head and thorax same color as forewing; top of abdomen same color as hindwing
Where is Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Pacific coastal beaches |
| Range | California to British Columbia; type specimen collected in California |
What does Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364 eat?
The diet of the Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364 includes larvae feed on Silky Beach Pea ( Lathyrus littoralis ), Coastal Sand Verbena ( Abronia latifolia ), and Beach Knotweed ( Polygonum paronychia ).
When is Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364 active?
Psammopolia arietis - Hodges#10364: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September.