Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319
Alypia ridingsii
This record describes Alypia ridingsii (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing black with large curving white patch in PM area (broken by black veins), a white triangular basal patch, and a white spot between these two areas; hindwing black with two white patches; no colored shoulder pads on thorax; abdomen and thorax black, hairy; middle leg with tuft of orange hair-like scales
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Agaristinae
- Genus
- Alypia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
adults visit flowers during the day
Geographic Range
western distribution: British Columbia to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in spring
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Various members of the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) have been reported as larval hosts: Eulobus (Camissonia) californicus , Camissoniopsis (Camissonia) bistorta , Camissoniopsis (Camissonia) pallida , Clarkia rhomboidea .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Alypia ridingsii. 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 Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Aaron Schusteff
Frequently Asked Questions About Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319
What is Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319?
Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319 (Alypia ridingsii) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319?
wingspan about 30 mm
How do you identify Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319?
Adult: forewing black with large curving white patch in PM area (broken by black veins), a white triangular basal patch, and a white spot between these two areas; hindwing black with two white patches; no colored shoulder pads on thorax; abdomen and thorax black, hairy; middle leg with tuft of orange hair-like scales
Where is Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | adults visit flowers during the day |
| Range | western distribution: British Columbia to California |
What does Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319 eat?
The diet of the Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319 includes Various members of the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) have been reported as larval hosts: Eulobus (Camissonia) californicus , Camissoniopsis (Camissonia) bistorta , Camissoniopsis (Camissonia) pallida , Clarkia rhomboidea ..
When is Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319 active?
Ridings' Forester - Hodges#9319: seasonal activity - adults fly in spring.