Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301
Spiramater lutra
This record describes Spiramater lutra (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brown or blackish with pale (often pinkish) reniform spot, anal patch, and basal patch Larva: early instars green, later instars brown with a line of black dots down the back The genus Spiramater is misspelled Spirameter at a number of web sites.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Spiramater
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to Newfoundland, south in the east at least to Maryland, south in the west to Arizona
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on alder, arbutus, birch, buffalo-berry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), choke cherry, fir, gooseberry, hazel, hemlock, pine, poplar, spruce, tamarack, willow
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: LUTRA: Lutra is the otter genus, giving rise to the common name Otter Spiramater; perhaps the describer of the species [Guenee in 1852] thought the coloration in some way resembled that of otter fur? (comment by Bob Patterson)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spiramater lutra. 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 Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301
What is Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301?
Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301 (Spiramater lutra) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301?
wingspan about 40 mm
How do you identify Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301?
Adult: forewing dark brown or blackish with pale (often pinkish) reniform spot, anal patch, and basal patch Larva: early instars green, later instars brown with a line of black dots down the back
Where is Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301 found?
Range: British Columbia to Newfoundland, south in the east at least to Maryland, south in the west to Arizona
What does Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301 eat?
The diet of the Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301 includes larvae feed on alder, arbutus, birch, buffalo-berry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), choke cherry, fir, gooseberry, hazel, hemlock, pine, poplar, spruce, tamarack, willow.
When is Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301 active?
Otter Spiramater - Hodges#10301: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to July.