Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955
Agrochola pulchella
This record describes Agrochola pulchella (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing with broad dark orange terminal band; remainder of wing medium to dark brown (median band usually slightly lighter brown); lower half of reniform spot whitish; orbicular spot either not noticeable or rimmed in white; hindwing medium gray with pinkish terminal band and indistinct dark gray discal spot Larva: body brown with diagonal black streaks above whitish lateral line; top of head black with whitish border
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Agrochola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to October larvae in June and July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of Salmonberry ( Rubus spectabilis ) and possibly related plants
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet means "diminutive beauty."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrochola pulchella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955
What is Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955?
Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955 (Agrochola pulchella) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955?
Adult: forewing with broad dark orange terminal band; remainder of wing medium to dark brown (median band usually slightly lighter brown); lower half of reniform spot whitish; orbicular spot either not noticeable or rimmed in white; hindwing medium gray with pinkish terminal band and indistinct dark gray discal spot Larva: body brown with diagonal black streaks above whitish lateral line; top of head black with whitish border
Where is Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955 found?
Range: British Columbia to California
What does Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955 eat?
The diet of the Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955 includes larvae feed on leaves of Salmonberry ( Rubus spectabilis ) and possibly related plants.
When is Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955 active?
Agrochola pulchella - Hodges#9955: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to October larvae in June and July.