Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067
Sympistis chionanthi
This record describes Sympistis chionanthi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing pale gray with darker gray shading; AM and PM lines and spot outlines sharp, black; orbicular and reniform spots pale gray, darker toward center; claviform spot connected to AM line, forming a sharp hollow wedge; black blotch along costa in median area; thin black anal dash hindwing white with narrow grayish-brown border [description by Charles Covell] Larva: middorsal line broad, lightened over thorax, broken into spots on anterior of abdomen, and whitened on seventh and eighth segments; black subdorsal stripe ends on seventh segment; eighth segment slightly humped; brown spiracular stripe edged with whitened stripe to either side [description adapted from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests] All images of the adults, that do-not have larva or host information should be placed here: - chionanthi or forbesi
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oncocnemidinae
- Genus
- Sympistis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
from British Columbia to New Brunswick, south to Georgia, west to Kansas and South Dakota
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from August to October larvae in May and June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on ash ( Fraxinus spp.) and Fringe-Tree ( Chionanthus virginicus )
Life History
one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CHIONANTHI: from the genus name of the Fringe-Tree ( Chionanthus virginicus ), one of the larval host plants
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sympistis chionanthi. 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 Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Jay Greenberg , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chris Grinter , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067
What is Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067?
Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067 (Sympistis chionanthi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067?
wingspan 33-38 mm
How do you identify Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067?
Adult: forewing pale gray with darker gray shading; AM and PM lines and spot outlines sharp, black; orbicular and reniform spots pale gray, darker toward center; claviform spot connected to AM line, forming a sharp hollow wedge; black blotch along costa in median area; thin black anal dash hindwing white with narrow grayish-brown border [description by Charles Covell] Larva: middorsal line broad, lightened over thorax, broken into spots on anterior of abdomen, and whitened on seventh and eighth segments; black subdorsal stripe ends on seventh segment; eighth segment slightly humped; brown spiracular stripe edged with whitened stripe to either side [description adapted from Caterpillars of Eastern Forests] All images of the adults, that do-not have larva or host information should be placed here: - chionanthi or forbesi
Where is Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067 found?
Range: from British Columbia to New Brunswick, south to Georgia, west to Kansas and South Dakota
What does Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067 eat?
The diet of the Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067 includes larvae feed on ash ( Fraxinus spp.) and Fringe-Tree ( Chionanthus virginicus ).
When is Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067 active?
Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067: seasonal activity - adults fly from August to October larvae in May and June.
What is the life cycle of a Fringe-Tree Sallow - Hodges#10067?
one generation per year