Aseptis characta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aseptis characta |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Aseptis
|
| Species: |
A. characta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aseptis characta (Grote, 1880)
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Aseptis characta is a type of moth. It belongs to the Noctuidae family. This moth was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880. You can find it across western North America. It lives in places like the western Great Plains, Great Basin, and Pacific regions. Its range stretches from British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada. It also lives in Colorado, Utah, northern Arizona, and southern California in the USA.
Contents
Discovering the Aseptis characta Moth
The Aseptis characta moth is a fascinating insect. It is known for its unique appearance and where it chooses to live. Learning about this moth helps us understand more about the natural world.
What Does the Aseptis characta Look Like?
This moth has a wingspan of about 29.5 to 35 millimeters. That's about the size of a large coin. Its front wings, called forewings, can be ash gray or pale tan. Sometimes, they are darker gray in the middle. They might also have patches of olive-gray, tan, or orange-tan colors.
Markings on the Wings
The forewings have special lines that are double and dark gray. These lines are filled with a pale gray color. There are also three spots on the wings. These spots are outlined in black. They are filled with the same color as the wing, plus some lighter gray scales. The back wings, or hindwings, are usually gray, pale gray, or white. They have a dark spot in the center and dark lines along the veins. Female moths often have darker hindwings than males.
Where Does the Aseptis characta Live?
This moth prefers dry places. You can find it in habitats like sagebrush steppe, which is a type of grassland with shrubs. It also lives in juniper woodlands and open forests. These moths can live at many different elevations. They are found from sea level all the way up to 2,500 meters (about 8,200 feet) high.
The Life Cycle of the Aseptis characta
The Aseptis characta moth has a specific time when it appears. In drier areas, like California, it usually emerges in April. In places like the Pacific Northwest, it might appear in mid-May.
When Do They Fly?
These moths fly around from July to August. The exact time depends on where they live. The larvae, which are the young caterpillars of the moth, have a favorite food. They feed on plants from the Artemisia genus. This includes plants like sagebrush.
