Agrotis arenarius
Encyclopedia
Agrotis arenarius is a moth
of the Noctuidae
family. It is endemic to Sable Island
, Nova Scotia
.
Some biologists think it survived on the Sable Island Bank during the Ice Age. However, there is geological evidence that the Sable Island Bank was flooded after the glaciers melted. If the island formed since then, it could not have been a refuge during the Ice Age.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Noctuidae
Noctuidae
The Noctuidae or owlet moths are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species out of possibly 100,000 total, in more than 4,200 genera. They constitute the largest family in the Lepidoptera....
family. It is endemic to Sable Island
Sable Island
Sable Island is a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a year-round home to approximately five people...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
Some biologists think it survived on the Sable Island Bank during the Ice Age. However, there is geological evidence that the Sable Island Bank was flooded after the glaciers melted. If the island formed since then, it could not have been a refuge during the Ice Age.