Laysan Noctuid Moth

Agrotis laysanensis

Agrotis laysanensis ( English common name: Miller Moth, Miller, Laysan Noctuid Moth) is an extinct butterfly (moth ) from the family of cutworms ( Noctuidae ). He was endemic to the Hawaiian island of Laysan. The English common name Miller also Bird of extinct Laysan warbler (Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris) is derived from this species of moth.

Features

The wingspan of the moth was 36 mm in females and 42 mm in the males. The females usually had a darker color than the males. Head and Patagia ( paired structure on the pronotum that covers the base of the fore wings ) were wood brown, the thorax more gray and buff, the abdomen whitish. The front upper wing surface was cream- buff and had a dark brown or gray drawing. The root field was whitish. On the Costa loaders, on the inner edge and between the two edges of an irregular series of three more or less curved drawing elements could be seen. The wing center showed an irregular black elongated Diskalfleck, which was limited to the wing veins out of a black, near the cell tips deep dished hairline. In some specimens the stain went to the wing base. The outer transverse line was black. It ran diagonally, was jagged margins and grayish white. The little curved, whitish -colored eder, distally slightly darker -edged wavy line was each slightly bent inwards at the points of intersection with the wing veins. The area of ​​the Saumfeldes between external transverse line and hem line was a little darker than the outer edge. The hind wings were light wood brown and had a whitish buff outseam. The underside of the forewing was whitish cream- buff. A faint band was below the center across both wings.

Geographical distribution, habitat and behavior

The species occurred only on the island of Laysan ( Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, USA). The island has subtropical climate. Moths and caterpillars were probably the main food for the also extinct Laysan Warbler (Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris).

Extinction

1903 translated guano collectors wild rabbits on Laysan. This destroyed in a few years, the majority of the vegetation. With the loss of host and food plants, the extinction of this butterfly was sealed. The final proof of the kind derived from the year 1911. 1986 Agrotis laysanensis was included in the IUCN Red List and in 1989 in the list of extinct insects of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Swell