Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453
Helotropha reniformis
This record describes Helotropha reniformis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark brown with lighter brown subterminal band and small basal patch; reniform spot either solid white or brown with white outline and white streak in middle; two diverging white lines extend from inner corner of reniform spot into subterminal area (these lines may be lacking in specimens with solid white reniform spot); orbicular spot an oblique rounded rectangle, brown with white outline; pale yellowish-brown patch at apex; hindwing dirty white, shading to gray distally, with dark veins and pale fringe Additional description by Pacific Northwest Moths as a dimorphic species can be found at link in citations below.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Helotropha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
wet meadows, marshes; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States, south in the west to California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from August to October in Alberta
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on sedges (Cyperaceae) and rarely corn
Life History
one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Helotropha reniformis. 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 Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , JoAnneRusso , Kyhl Austin , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453
What is Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453?
Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453 (Helotropha reniformis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453?
forewing length = 15-19 mm
How do you identify Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453?
Adult: forewing dark brown with lighter brown subterminal band and small basal patch; reniform spot either solid white or brown with white outline and white streak in middle; two diverging white lines extend from inner corner of reniform spot into subterminal area (these lines may be lacking in specimens with solid white reniform spot); orbicular spot an oblique rounded rectangle, brown with white outline; pale yellowish-brown patch at apex; hindwing dirty white, shading to gray distally, with dark veins and pale fringe Additional description by Pacific Northwest Moths as a dimorphic species can be found at link in citations below.
Where is Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | wet meadows, marshes; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States, south in the west to California |
What does Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453 eat?
The diet of the Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453 includes larvae feed on sedges (Cyperaceae) and rarely corn.
When is Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453 active?
Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453: seasonal activity - adults fly from August to October in Alberta.
What is the life cycle of a Kidney-spotted Rustic - Hodges#9453?
one generation per year