Sympistis major facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sympistis major |
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Sympistis
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S. major
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| Sympistis major Grote, 1881
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The Sympistis major is a type of moth. It belongs to a large family of moths called Noctuidae, which are often known as owlet moths. A scientist named Augustus Radcliffe Grote first officially described this moth in 1881.
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About the Sympistis Major Moth
This moth is found in many places across the Pacific Northwest region of North America. This area includes parts of the United States and Canada.
What Does It Look Like?
The Sympistis major moth has a wingspan of about 31 to 36 millimeters. This means that when its wings are spread out, they measure between 3.1 and 3.6 centimeters from one tip to the other.
What Does It Eat?
The young moths, which are called larvae (or caterpillars), like to eat plants from the Penstemon group. They especially enjoy munching on a specific type called Penstemon fruticosus.
Its Scientific Name Story
For a while, this moth had a slightly different scientific name. It was once known as Oncocnemis riparia major. This meant it was considered a subspecies, which is like a special group within a species, of another moth called Oncocnemis riparia.
However, in 1999, scientists decided it was unique enough to be its own species. So, its name changed to Oncocnemis major. Later, in 2008, it was moved to a different group of moths, called the Sympistis genus. That's how it got its current name, Sympistis major.
