Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258
Bertholdia trigona
This record describes Bertholdia trigona (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing long, pointed, brown with large pale yellow translucent patch along costa near apex, and 2-3 yellowish spots along inner margin near base; several black dots within translucent patch; shape of patch is approximately rectangular, and its margins are fairly straight; terminal line checkered pale and dark; hindwing short, white, diffused with pink along inner margin and at base; abdomen red; thorax brown with red accents. These moths emit ultrasonic clicks that appear to jam the echolocation system of bats that might prey on them ( ScienceNOW ).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Bertholdia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southwestern United States from Arizona to Texas, north in the mountains to Wyoming and South Dakota.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly mid-July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: First through third instar larvae feed on algae, moss, and other small epiphytes growing on citrus trees. Fourth instar larvae switch to herbaceous plants . McFarland had young larvae feed on lichens from the stems of mountain mahogany ( Cerocarpus ).
Life History
Females lay single layers of green eggs.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Trigona derives from Latin meaning "triangle".
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bertholdia trigona. 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 Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by kschnei , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258
What is Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258?
Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258 (Bertholdia trigona) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258?
Forewing length 16-18 mm.
How do you identify Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258?
Adult: forewing long, pointed, brown with large pale yellow translucent patch along costa near apex, and 2-3 yellowish spots along inner margin near base; several black dots within translucent patch; shape of patch is approximately rectangular, and its margins are fairly straight; terminal line checkered pale and dark; hindwing short, white, diffused with pink along inner margin and at base; abdomen red; thorax brown with red accents.
Where is Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258 found?
Range: Southwestern United States from Arizona to Texas, north in the mountains to Wyoming and South Dakota.
What does Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258 eat?
The diet of the Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258 includes First through third instar larvae feed on algae, moss, and other small epiphytes growing on citrus trees. Fourth instar larvae switch to herbaceous plants . McFarland had young larvae feed on lichens from the stems of mountain mahogany ( Cerocarpus )..
When is Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258 active?
Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258: seasonal activity - Adults fly mid-July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Grote's Bertholdia - Hodges#8258?
Females lay single layers of green eggs.