Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959
Xestia speciosa
This record describes Xestia speciosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Description: ( 6 ) Determined by Lars Crabo .
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
Boreal spruce-fir forests and subalpine forests. ( 6 )
Geographic Range
Holarctic , Alaska and Washington to western Hudson Bay and Maine. South to Colorado along the Rocky Mountains. Across most of the Northern Hemisphere from Scandinavia to Japan Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Type: [USSR]: [SE Siberia] Ussuri [Zl, Leningrad]
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly mid-June to late August. ( 6 ) , ( 3 ) , ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are polyphagous feeding on a variety of broad-leaved plants. ( 5 ) Larval hosts include: ( 5 ) Betula nana L. (dwarf birch) * USDA plant profile Vaccinium L. (blueberry) * USDA plant profile Solidago L. (goldenrod) * USDA plant profile Hieracium L. (hawkweed) * USDA plant profile
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia speciosa. 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 speciosa - Hodges#10959 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959
What is Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959?
Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959 (Xestia speciosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959?
Forewing length 18-20 mm. ( 5 )
How do you identify Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959?
Description: ( 6 ) Determined by Lars Crabo .
Where is Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Boreal spruce-fir forests and subalpine forests. ( 6 ) |
| Range | Holarctic , Alaska and Washington to western Hudson Bay and Maine. South to Colorado along the Rocky Mountains. Across most of the Northern Hemisphere from Scandinavia to Japan Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. Type: [USSR]: [SE Siberia] Ussuri [Zl, Leningrad] |
What does Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959 eat?
The diet of the Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959 includes Larvae are polyphagous feeding on a variety of broad-leaved plants. ( 5 ) Larval hosts include: ( 5 ) Betula nana L. (dwarf birch) * USDA plant profile Vaccinium L. (blueberry) * USDA plant profile Solidago L. (goldenrod) * USDA plant profile Hieracium L. (hawkweed) * USDA plant profile.
When is Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959 active?
Xestia speciosa - Hodges#10959: seasonal activity - Adults fly mid-June to late August. ( 6 ) , ( 3 ) , ( 5 ).