Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222
Grotella tricolor
This record describes Grotella tricolor (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing white to pale yellow with median line of black spots; PM line double, inner line composed of black spots, outer line of reddish-brown spots; subterminal line composed of large oblong black spots; terminal line composed of smaller and rounder black spots; hindwing dark gray with white fringe.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Grotellinae
- Genus
- Grotella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern California, central and southern Arizona, west Texas (Nearctica.com).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown The related species, Grotella margueritaria , feeds on the blossom buds of Big Bend ringstem ( Anulocaulis eriosolenus ) and southwestern ringstem ( Anulocaulis leiosolenus ) (Kendall, 1976).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Grotella tricolor. 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 Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222
What is Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222?
Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222 (Grotella tricolor) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222?
Wingspan 20-23 mm (Barnes, 1904).
How do you identify Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222?
Adult: forewing white to pale yellow with median line of black spots; PM line double, inner line composed of black spots, outer line of reddish-brown spots; subterminal line composed of large oblong black spots; terminal line composed of smaller and rounder black spots; hindwing dark gray with white fringe.
Where is Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222 found?
Range: Southern California, central and southern Arizona, west Texas (Nearctica.com).
What does Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222 eat?
The diet of the Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222 includes Unknown The related species, Grotella margueritaria , feeds on the blossom buds of Big Bend ringstem ( Anulocaulis eriosolenus ) and southwestern ringstem ( Anulocaulis leiosolenus ) (Kendall, 1976)..
When is Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222 active?
Grotella tricolor - Hodges#11222: seasonal activity - Adults fly in August and September..