Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947
Xestia oblata
This record describes Xestia oblata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing reddish or rusty orange with dark gray to black median area; AM and PM lines white or pale gray, edged with black; orbicular and reniform spots large, orangish with thin black outline; orbicular spot oblique; inner margin of reniform spot distinctly flattened, and pointed basally; subterminal area a grayish band; terminal area a broad orange band hindwing pale yellowish or yellowish-orange
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
montane and boreal deciduous and mixedwood forest; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Geographic Range
Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south in the east to New England and Wisconsin, south in the west to California and northern New Mexico
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae have been reared to 3rd instar on Meadowsweet ( Spiraea latifolia ) and Bebb's Willow ( Salix bebbiana )
Life History
one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: OBLATA: from the Latin "oblatus" (flattened at the poles); probably a reference to the distinctly flattened inner margin of the reniform spot
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia oblata. 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 Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947
What is Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947?
Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947 (Xestia oblata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947?
forewing reddish or rusty orange with dark gray to black median area; AM and PM lines white or pale gray, edged with black; orbicular and reniform spots large, orangish with thin black outline; orbicular spot oblique; inner margin of reniform spot distinctly flattened, and pointed basally; subterminal area a grayish band; terminal area a broad orange band hindwing pale yellowish or yellowish-orange
Where is Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | montane and boreal deciduous and mixedwood forest; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light |
| Range | Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south in the east to New England and Wisconsin, south in the west to California and northern New Mexico |
What does Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947 eat?
The diet of the Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947 includes larvae have been reared to 3rd instar on Meadowsweet ( Spiraea latifolia ) and Bebb's Willow ( Salix bebbiana ).
When is Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947 active?
Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Rosy Dart - Hodges#10947?
one generation per year