Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946
Syngrapha microgamma
This record describes Syngrapha microgamma (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Syngrapha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mesic coniferous forest and acid bogs.
Geographic Range
Eichlin & Cunningham reported Nova Scotia west to British Columbia and north to Yukon Territory; south to Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Pohl, et al. reported specimens from Alberta.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Pacific Northwest Moths states "This species is a foodplant specialist feeding on various Ericaceae such as huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.), but appears to particularly favor Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum as a larval foodplant." ( 4 ) Kostrowicki (1961) reported larval host unknown in North America; in Europe it feeds on Salix myrtilloides and S. rosmarinifoliay .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Syngrapha microgamma. 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 Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946
How big is Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946?
Wingspan 26-30 mm.
Where is Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mesic coniferous forest and acid bogs. |
| Range | Eichlin & Cunningham reported Nova Scotia west to British Columbia and north to Yukon Territory; south to Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Pohl, et al. reported specimens from Alberta. |
What does Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946 eat?
The diet of the Syngrapha microgamma - Hodges#8946 includes Pacific Northwest Moths states This species is a foodplant specialist feeding on various Ericaceae such as huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.), but appears to particularly favor Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum as a larval foodplant. ( 4 ) Kostrowicki (1961) reported larval host unknown in North America; in Europe it feeds on Salix myrtilloides and S. rosmarinifoliay ..