LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Tarache apela - Hodges#9133

Tarache apela

This record describes Tarache apela (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 - Tarache apela
Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Sexually dimorphic. Forewing ground color of males is yellow-tan and females are white.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Noctuoidea
Family
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Subfamily
Acontiinae
Tribe
Acontiini
Genus
Tarache

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Southern Arizona, south into Mexico.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tarache apela. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 (5)

Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 - photo 1
Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 - photo 2
Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 - photo 3
Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 - photo 4
Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 - photo 5
Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy

Frequently Asked Questions About Tarache apela - Hodges#9133

What is Tarache apela - Hodges#9133?

Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 (Tarache apela) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Tarache apela - Hodges#9133?

Forewing length about 9 mm.

How do you identify Tarache apela - Hodges#9133?

Sexually dimorphic. Forewing ground color of males is yellow-tan and females are white.

Where is Tarache apela - Hodges#9133 found?

Range: Southern Arizona, south into Mexico.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.