Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491
Orthosia alurina
This record describes Orthosia alurina (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light to medium gray with reddish tinting, especially between spots and on basal side of ST line; lines very inconspicuous; terminal line composed of several black dots; hindwing shiny, pale grayish-brown with faint discal spot; male has serrate antennae [adapted from description by Charles Covell ]
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Orthosiini
- Genus
- Orthosia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from February to May; most common in April
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on basswood, serviceberry or juneberry ( Amelanchier spp.), and many other woody plants
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Orthosia alurina. 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 Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Jason D. Roberts , marcie oconnor , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491
What is Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491?
Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491 (Orthosia alurina) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491?
wingspan 31-40 mm
How do you identify Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491?
Adult: forewing light to medium gray with reddish tinting, especially between spots and on basal side of ST line; lines very inconspicuous; terminal line composed of several black dots; hindwing shiny, pale grayish-brown with faint discal spot; male has serrate antennae [adapted from description by Charles Covell ]
Where is Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491 found?
Range: Quebec and Maine to Florida, west to Texas, north to Ontario
What does Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491 eat?
The diet of the Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491 includes larvae feed on basswood, serviceberry or juneberry ( Amelanchier spp.), and many other woody plants.
When is Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491 active?
Gray Quaker - Hodges#10491: seasonal activity - adults fly from February to May; most common in April.