Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2
Sympistis ra
This record describes Sympistis ra (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Head | Head white with black scales between antennae; thorax and tegulae a mix of white and black scales. |
| Forewing | Forewing ground color white, mottled with black and pale blue-gray scales with patches of pale yellow; heavy suffusion of black scales between AM/PM lines; whitish orbicular/reniform spots and black AM/PM lines present but not sharply defined; ST line bordered basally with black patches; line of light yellow scales from ST line, thru reniform/orbicular/AM line to basal area; fringe dark gray with light yellow basal line and checkered with darker gray between the veins. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing basal area dirty white with scattered gray scales; veins with scattered gray scales; discal lunule gray; dark gray terminal band sharply defined; fringe white but light gray-brown basally. |
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
Habitat
alpine
Geographic Range
Sierra Nevada and White Mountains of California
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sympistis ra. 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 ra - Hodges#10104.2 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2
What is Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2?
Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2 (Sympistis ra) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2?
Forewing length 14-16 mm
How do you identify Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Head | Head white with black scales between antennae; thorax and tegulae a mix of white and black scales. |
| Forewing | Forewing ground color white, mottled with black and pale blue-gray scales with patches of pale yellow; heavy suffusion of black scales between AM/PM lines; whitish orbicular/reniform spots and black AM/PM lines present but not sharply defined; ST line bordered basally with black patches; line of light yellow scales from ST line, thru reniform/orbicular/AM line to basal area; fringe dark gray with light yellow basal line and checkered with darker gray between the veins. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing basal area dirty white with scattered gray scales; veins with scattered gray scales; discal lunule gray; dark gray terminal band sharply defined; fringe white but light gray-brown basally. |
Where is Sympistis ra - Hodges#10104.2 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | alpine |
| Range | Sierra Nevada and White Mountains of California |