Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929
Pyreferra hesperidago
This record describes Pyreferra hesperidago (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellow with variable orange shading; lines darker orange to reddish-brown; AM line and broad median line slightly jagged; PM line solid, nearly straight, turns inward just below costa. Hindwing pale orange with slightly darker median band. [description by Charles Covell] Larva: body waxy white with broad lemon-yellow banding; head very pale with slightly differentiated snowflake-like spots; some stemmata black; first thoracic segment without yellow; above level of spiracles: front two-thirds of each segment yellowed back to seventh abdominal segment; uniformly yellow from spiracles to above prolegs [description from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Pyreferra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia to northern Florida, west to Arkansas, north to Wisconsin and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
A spring and fall species: adults fly from March to May and again from September to November larvae in May and June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of witch-hazel, hop-hornbeam (ironwood), and perhaps sweetgum
Life History
one or two generations per year; overwinters as an adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyreferra hesperidago. 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 Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929
What is Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929?
Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929 (Pyreferra hesperidago) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929?
wingspan 34-38 mm
How do you identify Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929?
Adult: forewing yellow with variable orange shading; lines darker orange to reddish-brown; AM line and broad median line slightly jagged; PM line solid, nearly straight, turns inward just below costa. Hindwing pale orange with slightly darker median band. [description by Charles Covell] Larva: body waxy white with broad lemon-yellow banding; head very pale with slightly differentiated snowflake-like spots; some stemmata black; first thoracic segment without yellow; above level of spiracles: front two-thirds of each segment yellowed back to seventh abdominal segment; uniformly yellow from spiracles to above prolegs [description from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
Where is Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to northern Florida, west to Arkansas, north to Wisconsin and Ontario
What does Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929 eat?
The diet of the Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929 includes larvae feed on leaves of witch-hazel, hop-hornbeam (ironwood), and perhaps sweetgum.
When is Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929 active?
Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929: seasonal activity - A spring and fall species: adults fly from March to May and again from September to November larvae in May and June.
What is the life cycle of a Mustard Sallow - Hodges#9929?
one or two generations per year; overwinters as an adult