Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972
Xestia infimatis
This record describes Xestia infimatis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The most heavily streaked and brownest of vernilis species group; forewing varies from pale buff with dark brown streaking to gray with extensive blackish-gray streaking; hindwing varies from dirty white to dark smoky brown with darker shading on the veins, discal spot and outer third of the wing. Males tend to be browner than females. More detailed description, including genitalia, is available in MONA Fascicle 27-3 that is available at the link in citations below.
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
dry coniferous forest and sagebrush
Geographic Range
southern British Columbia south to western Montana and southern California; in California it occurs eastward to foothills of Sierra Nevada Mountains
Seasonal Activity
mid-August to mid-October
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia infimatis. 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 Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972
What is Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972?
Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972 (Xestia infimatis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972?
forewing length 12-19 mm, 14-16 mm most frequent
How do you identify Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972?
The most heavily streaked and brownest of vernilis species group; forewing varies from pale buff with dark brown streaking to gray with extensive blackish-gray streaking; hindwing varies from dirty white to dark smoky brown with darker shading on the veins, discal spot and outer third of the wing. Males tend to be browner than females. More detailed description, including genitalia, is available in MONA Fascicle 27-3 that is available at the link in citations below.
Where is Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry coniferous forest and sagebrush |
| Range | southern British Columbia south to western Montana and southern California; in California it occurs eastward to foothills of Sierra Nevada Mountains |
When is Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972 active?
Xestia infimatis - Hodges#10972: seasonal activity - mid-August to mid-October.