Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068
Sympistis fortis
This record describes Sympistis fortis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Description can be found at Pacific Northwest Moths.
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
western Oregon south to Baja California and east to Colorado through southern Nevada and Arizona
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sympistis fortis. 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 Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068
What is Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068?
Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068 (Sympistis fortis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068?
Description can be found at Pacific Northwest Moths.
Where is Sympistis fortis - Hodges#10068 found?
Range: western Oregon south to Baja California and east to Colorado through southern Nevada and Arizona