Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909
Autographa rubidus
This record describes Autographa rubidus (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | The following information is from the ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum ). A medium-size (3.5 cm wingspan) moth with dark rusty red-brown forewings with a dark violet tint. The area inside the antemedian line and in the apical and anal angle areas is lighter yellow brown, and there is a short black streak just below the apex. The most prominent mark is the outwardly curved dull silver stigma, partially filled with light rust scales. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings are pale yellow-brown with a dark discal spot, a narrow dark median band and a broad sooty brown terminal band. |
| Antennae | Antennae are simple and both the sexes are alike. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Autographa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
From Newfoundland west across southern Canada to southeastern BC, south only to Maine and Minnesota.
Seasonal Activity
Late May to mid July.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Autographa rubidus. 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 Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ian Maton; Additional contributions by Tony-2
Frequently Asked Questions About Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909
What is Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909?
Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909 (Autographa rubidus) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909?
3.5 cm wingspan
How do you identify Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | The following information is from the ( E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum ). A medium-size (3.5 cm wingspan) moth with dark rusty red-brown forewings with a dark violet tint. The area inside the antemedian line and in the apical and anal angle areas is lighter yellow brown, and there is a short black streak just below the apex. The most prominent mark is the outwardly curved dull silver stigma, partially filled with light rust scales. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings are pale yellow-brown with a dark discal spot, a narrow dark median band and a broad sooty brown terminal band. |
| Antennae | Antennae are simple and both the sexes are alike. |
Where is Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909 found?
Range: From Newfoundland west across southern Canada to southeastern BC, south only to Maine and Minnesota.
When is Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909 active?
Rubida Looper Moth - Hodges#8909: seasonal activity - Late May to mid July..