Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954
Agrochola purpurea
This record describes Agrochola purpurea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing variably light purplish-brown to reddish-orange; lines and markings faint except for dark subapical dash along costa and black lower half of reniform spot; subterminal line a series of black dots; terminal line either continuous and scalloped or broken into dark dots; grayish V-shaped median line descends in middle to reniform spot; AM and PM lines brown, double, wavy; orbicular and reniform spots rimmed with brown; hindwing pale yellowish with gray shading; veins, discal spot, and terminal line darker gray; fringe pale Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
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
Habitat
dry western forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California, east to Utah
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in fall and early winter
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of lupine ( Lupinus spp.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrochola purpurea. 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 purpurea - Hodges#9954 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954
What is Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954?
Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954 (Agrochola purpurea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954?
wingspan about 36 mm
How do you identify Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954?
Adult: forewing variably light purplish-brown to reddish-orange; lines and markings faint except for dark subapical dash along costa and black lower half of reniform spot; subterminal line a series of black dots; terminal line either continuous and scalloped or broken into dark dots; grayish V-shaped median line descends in middle to reniform spot; AM and PM lines brown, double, wavy; orbicular and reniform spots rimmed with brown; hindwing pale yellowish with gray shading; veins, discal spot, and terminal line darker gray; fringe pale Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry western forests; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | British Columbia to California, east to Utah |
What does Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954 eat?
The diet of the Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954 includes larvae feed on leaves of lupine ( Lupinus spp.).
When is Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954 active?
Agrochola purpurea - Hodges#9954: seasonal activity - adults fly in fall and early winter.