Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951
Psectraglaea carnosa
This record describes Psectraglaea carnosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Larva - see Crumb in Print References. Species account and larval photo in Wagner, et al.. , Adult - see Grote in Print References. An uncommon moth that is very rarely seen because of its habits. It is mainly restricted to scrub oak barrens, has an unusual flight season (mainly October), and is attracted to light rather than sugar bait (while almost every other northeastern moth flying in October comes to bait much more readily than light). But the kicker for carnosa is that they don't start flying until after 1:00 AM. Hours after the cold has slowed most of the other moths to a crawl, carnosa starts showing up. So even if you are blacklighting in October in scrub oak barrens (which won't turn up a very wide variety of species to begin with), you're likely to pack up and call it a night long before carnosa starts flying. When you do find them though, they can be quite common. - Paul Dennehy
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Psectraglaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from Wisconsin east across southern Canada to Maine, south to Maryland and West Virginia. , Type locality: Old Town , Maine.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Known larval hosts include Vaccinium spp. and Quercus spp.. Have been captive reared on blueberry, chokeberry and cherry. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Psectraglaea carnosa. 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 Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951
What is Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951?
Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951 (Psectraglaea carnosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951?
Larva to 45 mm. Wingspan about 45 mm (Grote, 1877).
How do you identify Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951?
Larva - see Crumb in Print References. Species account and larval photo in Wagner, et al.. , Adult - see Grote in Print References.
Where is Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951 found?
Range: Records from Wisconsin east across southern Canada to Maine, south to Maryland and West Virginia. , Type locality: Old Town , Maine.
What does Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951 eat?
The diet of the Psectraglaea carnosa - Hodges#9951 includes Known larval hosts include Vaccinium spp. and Quercus spp.. Have been captive reared on blueberry, chokeberry and cherry. ,.