Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992
Nola triquetrana
This record describes Nola triquetrana (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW gray with basal section of costa edged black. AM strongly kinked near costa, forming a V-shape. Mid-point of costa is marked with blackish triangle. Toothed PM and ST are faint. Can be abundant in the foothills of the Appalachians, woodlands, and forests.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Nolidae (Nolid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Nolinae
- Genus
- Nola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Common foodplant is witch hazel.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nola triquetrana. 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 Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Ethan Kistler , Nick Block , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Fyn Kynd , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992
What is Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992?
Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992 (Nola triquetrana) is a species in the family Nolidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992?
TL ≈ 9-10mm
How do you identify Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992?
Adult : FW gray with basal section of costa edged black. AM strongly kinked near costa, forming a V-shape. Mid-point of costa is marked with blackish triangle. Toothed PM and ST are faint.
What does Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992 eat?
The diet of the Three-spotted Nola - Hodges#8992 includes Common foodplant is witch hazel..