LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144

Tarache dacia

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

Identification and Appearance

Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 - Tarache dacia
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn

Identification notes

sexually dimorphic

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

Texas south to Mexico and Central America

Seasonal Activity

adults fly May through August - Robert W. Poole Moth Photographers Group has April records for Texas

Diet and Behavior

Diet: larval host unknown

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tarache dacia. 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 dacia - Hodges#9144 (2)

Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn

Frequently Asked Questions About Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144

How big is Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144?

forewing length about 11 mm.

How do you identify Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144?

sexually dimorphic

Where is Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 found?

Range: Texas south to Mexico and Central America

What does Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 eat?

The diet of the Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 includes larval host unknown.

When is Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144 active?

Tarache dacia - Hodges#9144: seasonal activity - adults fly May through August - Robert W. Poole Moth Photographers Group has April records for Texas.

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.