Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064
Pyrrhia exprimens
This record describes Pyrrhia exprimens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Adult: forewing has sharply bent median line, dark purple pm. line. |
| Forewing | Forewing brown/orange on basal side of median line, purple shading on terminal side of the median line. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing has purple/black border. Larva: fourth instar body green with white lateral stripe and many black dots; fifth instar white with dark yellow lateral stripe and many black dots Covell notes that the species is uncommon. Handfield records it as common in Quebec. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heliothinae
- Genus
- Pyrrhia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
open wooded areas, bogs, urban yards; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, and California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Sweetfern, Polygonum spp. , willow , Prunus . General feeder on forbs and woody plants including legumes, chicory, columbine, dogbane, monkshood, pea, penstemon, poplar, rose, strawberry.
Life History
Larva; larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrrhia exprimens. 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-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Mike Boone , Robin McLeod , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064
What is Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064?
Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064 (Pyrrhia exprimens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064?
wingspan 35-38 mm
How do you identify Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Adult: forewing has sharply bent median line, dark purple pm. line. |
| Forewing | Forewing brown/orange on basal side of median line, purple shading on terminal side of the median line. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing has purple/black border. Larva: fourth instar body green with white lateral stripe and many black dots; fifth instar white with dark yellow lateral stripe and many black dots |
Where is Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | open wooded areas, bogs, urban yards; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, and California |
What does Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064 eat?
The diet of the Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064 includes Sweetfern, Polygonum spp. , willow , Prunus . General feeder on forbs and woody plants including legumes, chicory, columbine, dogbane, monkshood, pea, penstemon, poplar, rose, strawberry..
When is Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064 active?
Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August.
What is the life cycle of a Purple-Lined Sallow - Hodges#11064?
Larva; larva; adult