Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111
Tarache augustipennis
This record describes Tarache augustipennis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray to blackish with white strip along costa broken into four patches by 3 intervening dark bars; the first white costal patch is the largest, extending almost half-way along costa from base; the remaining 3 costal patches are much smaller, and progressively decrease in size toward apex; the first and second costal patches may sometimes merge to form a single whole or partially-divided patch; reniform and orbicular spots merged with or surrounded by black (not surrounded narrowly by white); additional pale diffuse patch in anal angle area; hindwing dark brownish gray with pale fringe Genitalia:
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
Habitat
fens, bogs, foothill valleys, riparian woodlands in arid grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
western North America: Manitoba to southwestern British Columbia, south to Arizona, east to Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August in the north (Alberta)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: unknown
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tarache augustipennis. 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 Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Chris Grinter , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111
What is Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111?
Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111 (Tarache augustipennis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111?
wingspan 23-30 mm, based on several Internet photos
How do you identify Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111?
Adult: forewing dark gray to blackish with white strip along costa broken into four patches by 3 intervening dark bars; the first white costal patch is the largest, extending almost half-way along costa from base; the remaining 3 costal patches are much smaller, and progressively decrease in size toward apex; the first and second costal patches may sometimes merge to form a single whole or partially-divided patch; reniform and orbicular spots merged with or surrounded by black (not surrounded narrowly by white); additional pale diffuse patch in anal angle area; hindwing dark brownish gray with pale fringe Genitalia:
Where is Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fens, bogs, foothill valleys, riparian woodlands in arid grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | western North America: Manitoba to southwestern British Columbia, south to Arizona, east to Texas |
What does Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111 eat?
The diet of the Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111 includes unknown.
When is Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111 active?
Narrow-winged Midget - Hodges#9111: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August in the north (Alberta).