Tholera americana - Hodges#10523
Tholera americana
This record describes Tholera americana (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A distinctive species, mottled gray and black with all veins prominently highlighted with white, plus a subterminal line of white.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Tholerini
- Genus
- Tholera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to Alberta, south in mountains to n. California and Colorado (MPG records).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in August-September (MPG, BugGuide records).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae of Old World members of the genus feed on grasses.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The specific epithet " americana " presumably comes from the fact that this is the sole North American representative of an Old World genus ( Neuronia , now Tholera ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tholera americana. 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 Tholera americana - Hodges#10523 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Mallory; Additional contributions by Chuck Sexton , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Tholera americana - Hodges#10523
What is Tholera americana - Hodges#10523?
Tholera americana - Hodges#10523 (Tholera americana) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tholera americana - Hodges#10523?
Wingspan, 31 mm.
How do you identify Tholera americana - Hodges#10523?
A distinctive species, mottled gray and black with all veins prominently highlighted with white, plus a subterminal line of white.
Where is Tholera americana - Hodges#10523 found?
Range: British Columbia to Alberta, south in mountains to n. California and Colorado (MPG records).
What does Tholera americana - Hodges#10523 eat?
The diet of the Tholera americana - Hodges#10523 includes Larvae of Old World members of the genus feed on grasses..
When is Tholera americana - Hodges#10523 active?
Tholera americana - Hodges#10523: seasonal activity - Adults fly in August-September (MPG, BugGuide records)..