Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533
Homorthodes communis
This record describes Homorthodes communis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing yellowish-brown with fine black irregular AM and PM lines; other markings faint except for dark shading in lower half of reniform spot; ST line usually visible but not prominent; hindwing light gray, paler toward base; fringe white to pale yellowish
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Eriopygini
- Genus
- Homorthodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to British Columbia PNW Moths includes Arizona and New Mexico
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to October in California
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus spp.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Homorthodes communis. 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 Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Blocky | Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533
What is Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533?
Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533 (Homorthodes communis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533?
wingspan 25-27 mm, based on two Internet photos
How do you identify Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533?
Adult: forewing yellowish-brown with fine black irregular AM and PM lines; other markings faint except for dark shading in lower half of reniform spot; ST line usually visible but not prominent; hindwing light gray, paler toward base; fringe white to pale yellowish
Where is Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533 found?
Range: California to British Columbia PNW Moths includes Arizona and New Mexico
What does Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533 eat?
The diet of the Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus spp.).
When is Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533 active?
Alder Quaker - Hodges#10533: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to October in California.