LepidopteraNoctuidae – Owlet Moths

Tarache major - Hodges#9152

Tarache major

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

Identification and Appearance

Tarache major - Hodges#9152 - Tarache major
Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

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

Widely distributed in the west but uncommon; from British Columbia east to Utah and Colorado, south to southern California

Diet and Behavior

Diet: larval hosts are Freemontodendrom californicum and Sphaeralcea ambigua

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tarache major. 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 major - Hodges#9152 (5)

Tarache major - Hodges#9152 - photo 1
Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Tarache major - Hodges#9152 - photo 2
Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Tarache major - Hodges#9152 - photo 3
Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Tarache major - Hodges#9152 - photo 4
Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Tarache major - Hodges#9152 - photo 5
Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Frequently Asked Questions About Tarache major - Hodges#9152

How big is Tarache major - Hodges#9152?

forewing length 13 - 15 mm

Where is Tarache major - Hodges#9152 found?

Range: Widely distributed in the west but uncommon; from British Columbia east to Utah and Colorado, south to southern California

What does Tarache major - Hodges#9152 eat?

The diet of the Tarache major - Hodges#9152 includes larval hosts are Freemontodendrom californicum and Sphaeralcea ambigua.

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

Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.