Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967
Xestia elimata
This record describes Xestia elimata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Xestia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
forested areas of hard Pines (Pinus)
Geographic Range
eastern North America New England south to Georgia west to Texas (at least) record from Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co., TX (C. Bordelon & E. Knudson)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly September to October, probably single brood
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larva feed on Pine (Pinus) species
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia elimata. 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 Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by John R. Maxwell; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967
How big is Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967?
wingspan is about 42 mm
Where is Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | forested areas of hard Pines (Pinus) |
| Range | eastern North America New England south to Georgia west to Texas (at least) record from Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co., TX (C. Bordelon & E. Knudson) |
What does Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967 eat?
The diet of the Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967 includes larva feed on Pine (Pinus) species.
When is Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967 active?
Southern Variable Dart - Hodges#10967: seasonal activity - adults fly September to October, probably single brood.