American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873
Xylena nupera
This record describes Xylena nupera (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
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Xylena (Swordgrass Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia south to northern California and east to New Jersey and Nova Scotia. ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly late summer into fall then overwinter as adults. Females become active from March to May
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed upon many plants from grasses to trees. ( 4 ) Appears to favor hardwoods in the Rose family. Also Prunus , Populus , Salix
Life History
Adults overwinter. larva; larva; larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xylena nupera. 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 American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873
How big is American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873?
Forewing length 22-25 mm.
Where is American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873 found?
Range: British Columbia south to northern California and east to New Jersey and Nova Scotia. ,
What does American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873 eat?
The diet of the American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873 includes Larvae feed upon many plants from grasses to trees. ( 4 ) Appears to favor hardwoods in the Rose family. Also Prunus , Populus , Salix.
When is American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873 active?
American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873: seasonal activity - Adults fly late summer into fall then overwinter as adults. Females become active from March to May.
What is the life cycle of a American Swordgrass Moth - Hodges#9873?
Adults overwinter. larva; larva; larva; adult