Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876
Xylena cineritia
This record describes Xylena cineritia (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing lower half dark bluish-gray; upper half light gray basally; light pinkish-yellow streak beyond reniform spot; no basal dash; reniform spot strongly curved, pale-centered with dark outline; orbicular spot black, oval; small whitish apical patch hindwing grayish-brown with thin dark terminal line Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Xylena (Swordgrass Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
in the east: Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak barrens and heathlands on sandplains or rocky ridges and summits; shrublands in the west: high-elevation conifer forests
Geographic Range
northern United States and southern Canada (Newfoundland to New Jeersy, west to California, north to British Columbia)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from September to November, and again in April and May
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, blueberry, Buffaloberry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), elder ( Sambucus spp.), maple, meadowsweet, oak, poplar, rose, willow
Life History
two generations per year; overwinters as an adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: CINERITIA: from the Latin "cinereus" (ashy); probably refers to the ash-gray color of the lower half of the forewing
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xylena cineritia. 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 Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876
What is Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876?
Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876 (Xylena cineritia) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876?
wingspan 40-51 mm
How do you identify Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876?
Adult: forewing lower half dark bluish-gray; upper half light gray basally; light pinkish-yellow streak beyond reniform spot; no basal dash; reniform spot strongly curved, pale-centered with dark outline; orbicular spot black, oval; small whitish apical patch hindwing grayish-brown with thin dark terminal line Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | in the east: Pitch Pine-Scrub Oak barrens and heathlands on sandplains or rocky ridges and summits; shrublands in the west: high-elevation conifer forests |
| Range | northern United States and southern Canada (Newfoundland to New Jeersy, west to California, north to British Columbia) |
What does Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876 eat?
The diet of the Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, blueberry, Buffaloberry ( Shepherdia canadensis ), elder ( Sambucus spp.), maple, meadowsweet, oak, poplar, rose, willow.
When is Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876 active?
Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876: seasonal activity - adults fly from September to November, and again in April and May.
What is the life cycle of a Gray Swordgrass - Hodges#9876?
two generations per year; overwinters as an adult