Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599
Pseudobryomima muscosa
This record describes Pseudobryomima muscosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray mixed with greenish shading and white spots and speckling, giving an overall dark mottled appearance; three or four small white spots around reniform spot; AM and PM lines jagged, inconspicuous against ground color; subterminal line jagged, irregular, with slightly paler shading beyond it; hindwing dark brownish-gray, paler basally, with dark discal spot and pale yellowish fringe
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Pseudobryomima
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in late summer in the north
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: MUSCOSA: from the Latin "muscus" (moss); probably refers to the "mossy" greenish shading on the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name above
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudobryomima muscosa. 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 Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599
What is Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599?
Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599 (Pseudobryomima muscosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599?
wingspan about 27 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599?
Adult: forewing dark gray mixed with greenish shading and white spots and speckling, giving an overall dark mottled appearance; three or four small white spots around reniform spot; AM and PM lines jagged, inconspicuous against ground color; subterminal line jagged, irregular, with slightly paler shading beyond it; hindwing dark brownish-gray, paler basally, with dark discal spot and pale yellowish fringe
Where is Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599 found?
Range: British Columbia to California
When is Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599 active?
Mossy Pseudobryomima - Hodges#9599: seasonal activity - adults fly in late summer in the north.