Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951
Pseudohermonassa tenuicula
This record describes Pseudohermonassa tenuicula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray with black shading before and between orbicular and reniform spots; orbicular spot open at upper (costal) end only; usually lacks pale patches along costa at base of wing and at PM line, and lacks obvious pale dots in subterminal line (unlike Pink-spotted Dart in both respects); hindwing dirty white at base, shading to gray toward outer margin; terminal line thin, dark; fringe white or pale yellowish
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Pseudohermonassa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
across northern United States and southern Canada, north to Northwest Territories
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on mannagrass ( Glyceria spp.)
Life History
one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: described by Morrison in 1874
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudohermonassa tenuicula. 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 Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951
What is Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951?
Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951 (Pseudohermonassa tenuicula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951?
wingspan about 31 mm, based on photo by Jim Vargo at MPG
How do you identify Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951?
Adult: forewing dark gray with black shading before and between orbicular and reniform spots; orbicular spot open at upper (costal) end only; usually lacks pale patches along costa at base of wing and at PM line, and lacks obvious pale dots in subterminal line (unlike Pink-spotted Dart in both respects); hindwing dirty white at base, shading to gray toward outer margin; terminal line thin, dark; fringe white or pale yellowish
Where is Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951 found?
Range: across northern United States and southern Canada, north to Northwest Territories
What does Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951 eat?
The diet of the Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951 includes larvae feed on mannagrass ( Glyceria spp.).
When is Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951 active?
Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September.
What is the life cycle of a Morrison's Sooty Dart - Hodges#10951?
one generation per year