Purple Arches - Hodges#10280
Polia purpurissata
This record describes Polia purpurissata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing purplish-gray with brown shading, especially around narrow, strongly-curved reniform spot; lines blackish, double, variably distinct; blackish shading on inside of ST line, heaviest toward anal angle hindwing grayish-brown, darker at outer margin; fringe white [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
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Polia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
acidic bogs where food plants grow, boreal forest, and Ponderosa Pine forests in the west; adults may be attracted to light. City gardens, with birch, in at least southern New Brunswick
Geographic Range
Yukon (and Alaska?) and Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, south in the east to Maryland and West Virginia, and south in the west to New Mexico, Arizona, California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, Bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata ), blueberry, Choke Cherry, deerberry, snowberry, sweetfern, willow
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: PURPURISSATA: from the Latin "purpura" (purple); probably a refrence to the light purplish-gray color on the forewing
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polia purpurissata. 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 Purple Arches - Hodges#10280 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Arches - Hodges#10280
What is Purple Arches - Hodges#10280?
Purple Arches - Hodges#10280 (Polia purpurissata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Purple Arches - Hodges#10280?
wingspan 40-55 mm
How do you identify Purple Arches - Hodges#10280?
forewing purplish-gray with brown shading, especially around narrow, strongly-curved reniform spot; lines blackish, double, variably distinct; blackish shading on inside of ST line, heaviest toward anal angle hindwing grayish-brown, darker at outer margin; fringe white [description by Charles Covell]
Where is Purple Arches - Hodges#10280 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | acidic bogs where food plants grow, boreal forest, and Ponderosa Pine forests in the west; adults may be attracted to light. City gardens, with birch, in at least southern New Brunswick |
| Range | Yukon (and Alaska?) and Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, south in the east to Maryland and West Virginia, and south in the west to New Mexico, Arizona, California |
What does Purple Arches - Hodges#10280 eat?
The diet of the Purple Arches - Hodges#10280 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, birch, Bitterbrush ( Purshia tridentata ), blueberry, Choke Cherry, deerberry, snowberry, sweetfern, willow.
When is Purple Arches - Hodges#10280 active?
Purple Arches - Hodges#10280: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to September.