Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1
Mesogona rubra
This record describes Mesogona rubra (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Detailed description is available at the link to the Mesogoan revision in citations below. From the key to adults in the revision, rubra has thorax and forewings that are brownish red to pink with faint or absent forewing spots; hindwings are uniform copper-colored or reddish without gray scales. Determined by Lars Crabo.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Xylenini
- Genus
- Mesogona
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the range to include coastal Washington to central California. ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler (2009) reported a single flight of late August to mid-October. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2009) listed two species of manzanita. ( 3 ) Arctostaphylos columbiana Piper (hairy manzanita). Arctostaphylos nevadensis A. Gray (pinemat manzanita).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mesogona rubra. 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 Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1
What is Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1?
Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1 (Mesogona rubra) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1?
forewing length as 18-21 mm.
How do you identify Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1?
Detailed description is available at the link to the Mesogoan revision in citations below. From the key to adults in the revision, rubra has thorax and forewings that are brownish red to pink with faint or absent forewing spots; hindwings are uniform copper-colored or reddish without gray scales. Determined by Lars Crabo.
Where is Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1 found?
Range: Powell & Opler (2009) reported the range to include coastal Washington to central California. ( 3 )
What does Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1 eat?
The diet of the Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1 includes Powell & Opler (2009) listed two species of manzanita. ( 3 ) Arctostaphylos columbiana Piper (hairy manzanita). Arctostaphylos nevadensis A. Gray (pinemat manzanita)..
When is Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1 active?
Mesogona rubra - Hodges#9953.1: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler (2009) reported a single flight of late August to mid-October. ( 3 ).