Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154
Sympistis perscripta
This record describes Sympistis perscripta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray with distinct black lines and black-outlined spots; AM line heaviest marking, zigzag; PM line double, sinuate; claviform spot oval, larger than round orbicular spot; reniform spot semicircular or slightly curved; wing veins more noticeable beyond PM line; hindwing dark gray, slightly paler toward base Larva: body purple with two dorsal rows of bright yellow spots outlined in black uncommon to rare in the northeast (a species of special concern in several northeastern states)
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
Maine to Florida, west to California, north at least to Oregon
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from late September to May in California, and flight dates elsewhere in the west fit this pattern ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae said to feed on Citrus species in California, and presumably other hosts farther north where Citrus doesn't occur (various sources). Powell & Opler state that larval hosts are Antirrhinum , Linaria , and Nuttallanthus and that Citrus is likely a spurious account ( 3 ) . Reared on combination of Sairocarpus nuttallianus (Nuttall's Snapdragon) for early instars and Mohavea confertiflora (Desert Ghost Flower) for later instars (Southwestmoths.org)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sympistis perscripta. 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 Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Maury Heiman , ceiseman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154
What is Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154?
Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154 (Sympistis perscripta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154?
wingspan about 33 mm, based on photos by Bruce Walsh
How do you identify Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154?
Adult: forewing dark gray with distinct black lines and black-outlined spots; AM line heaviest marking, zigzag; PM line double, sinuate; claviform spot oval, larger than round orbicular spot; reniform spot semicircular or slightly curved; wing veins more noticeable beyond PM line; hindwing dark gray, slightly paler toward base Larva: body purple with two dorsal rows of bright yellow spots outlined in black
Where is Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154 found?
Range: Maine to Florida, west to California, north at least to Oregon
What does Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154 eat?
The diet of the Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154 includes larvae said to feed on Citrus species in California, and presumably other hosts farther north where Citrus doesn't occur (various sources). Powell & Opler state that larval hosts are Antirrhinum , Linaria , and Nuttallanthus and that Citrus is likely a spurious account ( 3 ) . Reared on combination of Sairocarpus nuttallianus (Nuttall's Snapdragon) for early instars and Mohavea confertiflora (Desert Ghost Flower) for later instars (Southwestmoths.org).
When is Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154 active?
Scribbled Sallow - Hodges#10154: seasonal activity - adults fly from late September to May in California, and flight dates elsewhere in the west fit this pattern ( 3 ).