Agrotis cremata
Overview
Agrotis cremata is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Oʻahu, this species was last recorded by Thomas Blackburn prior to his death in 1912, and may now be extinct. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and NatureServe listed A. cremata as possibly extinct in 1994 and 1998 respectively, while a 2020 assessment for the IUCN Red List assessed it as critically endangered.
Agrotis cremata faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. The species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to land-use changes, while its restricted distribution leaves little room for population recovery. Climate change may further stress remaining populations by altering the specific environmental conditions this moth requires for survival.
Habitat
This critically endangered moth inhabits specialized grassland and scrubland environments with specific vegetation communities. The species requires undisturbed native plant associations that support its larval host plants and provide suitable microhabitat conditions for adult reproduction.
Conservation measures underway
Other threatened species in NOCTUIDAE
Threatened in United States
Frequently asked questions
Why is Agrotis cremata classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Agrotis cremata live?
What are the main threats to Agrotis cremata?
Get weekly conservation intelligence
One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.
Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.