Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275
Polia nimbosa
This record describes Polia nimbosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: tegulae (shoulder pads on thorax) pale with black margins; forewing pale gray, mottled with gray and black; orbicular, claviform, and reniform spots with sharp black outlines; reniform spot strongly curved; AM and PM lines double, scalloped; PM line resembles a sinuous series of connected white chevrons; ST line jagged, and has two small black spots near anal angle (the spots are either side-by-side or joined, and are a distinctive feature). hindwing grayish or brownish; median line, originating near anal angle, bordered distally by pale band, followed by dark band along outer margin. Crumb (1956) has description of the larvae. ( 3 ) Genitalia: Larva: very similar to Lachinipolia lorea 10405. Polia nimbosa has a faint spiracular line but Lachinipolia doesn't. There seems to be a ridge across the back of A8 on Polia but not on Lachinipolia. The spiracles on Polia are supposed to be tan with a black rim. The head of Polia has a light center with dark lines down the face.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Polia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
coast to coast in northern United States and southern Canada (Newfoundland to North Carolina, west to northern California ( 4 ) , north to British Columbia)
Seasonal Activity
The flight period appears to be May to September with the peak in July. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, gooseberry ( Ribes spp.), huckleberry ( Gaylussacia spp.), maple, willow
Life History
one generation per year
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: NIMBOSA: from the Latin "nimbus" (rain cloud; storm cloud); probably refers to the dark mottling on the forewing, reminiscent of the color of a storm cloud, and the origin of the common name Stormy Arches
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polia nimbosa. 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 Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275
What is Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275?
Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275 (Polia nimbosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 40-65 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length length 23-27 mm. |
How do you identify Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275?
Adult: tegulae (shoulder pads on thorax) pale with black margins; forewing pale gray, mottled with gray and black; orbicular, claviform, and reniform spots with sharp black outlines; reniform spot strongly curved; AM and PM lines double, scalloped; PM line resembles a sinuous series of connected white chevrons; ST line jagged, and has two small black spots near anal angle (the spots are either side-by-side or joined, and are a distinctive feature). hindwing grayish or brownish; median line, originating near anal angle, bordered distally by pale band, followed by dark band along outer margin. Crumb (1956) has description of the larvae. ( 3 ) Genitalia: Larva: very similar to Lachinipolia lorea 10405. Polia nimbosa has a faint spiracular line but Lachinipolia doesn't. There seems to be a ridge across the back of A8 on Polia but not on Lachinipolia. The spiracles on Polia are supposed to be tan with a black rim. The head of Polia has a light center with dark lines down the face.
Where is Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275 found?
Range: coast to coast in northern United States and southern Canada (Newfoundland to North Carolina, west to northern California ( 4 ) , north to British Columbia)
What does Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275 eat?
The diet of the Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, gooseberry ( Ribes spp.), huckleberry ( Gaylussacia spp.), maple, willow.
When is Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275 active?
Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275: seasonal activity - The flight period appears to be May to September with the peak in July. ( 5 ).
What is the life cycle of a Stormy Arches - Hodges#10275?
one generation per year