Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895
Rachiplusia ou
This record describes Rachiplusia ou (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Plusiinae
- Tribe
- Plusiini
- Genus
- Rachiplusia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open areas, cultivated land, presumably.
Geographic Range
Eastern and central North America from Arizona to Florida, north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to October, or all year in southern states.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on clover, corn, Mexican Tea ( Chenopodium ambrosioides ), mint ( Mentha spp.), tobacco, wheat, and other plants (Covell, 1984).
Life History
Two or more generations per year (Covell, 1984).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Rachi- is perhaps(?) from rachis , the axis of a leaf or spinal column? Suffix -plusia refers to other members of genus. Specific name ou is of obscure origin. Perhaps it is clever viusal pun The markings on the moth's forewing do look like the letters O and U. (Based on Internet searches, with a little imagination.) [PC]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rachiplusia ou. 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 Looper Moth - Hodges#8895 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson , Robin McLeod , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895
How big is Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895?
forewing length 13-20 mm (Pogue, 2005)
How do you identify Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895?
Genitalia:
Where is Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open areas, cultivated land, presumably. |
| Range | Eastern and central North America from Arizona to Florida, north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba. |
What does Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895 eat?
The diet of the Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895 includes Larvae feed on clover, corn, Mexican Tea ( Chenopodium ambrosioides ), mint ( Mentha spp.), tobacco, wheat, and other plants (Covell, 1984)..
When is Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895 active?
Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to October, or all year in southern states..
What is the life cycle of a Gray Looper Moth - Hodges#8895?
Two or more generations per year (Covell, 1984).