Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629
Tricholita baranca
This record describes Tricholita baranca (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Thorax and forewing relatively uniform dark brown with a slight purple tint; dark color of the FWs typically obscures any underlying pattern; a blackish sinuous PM line with outward points on the veins is sometimes visible, bordered distally by a slightly paler band; reniform spot is filled with 6 to 8 distinct white dots of varying size. There are 4 to 7 small white dots along the costal margin but terminal area and fringe only rarely show white dots, dashes, or checkering. Barnes original description is online and linked in the print references.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Eriopygini
- Genus
- Tricholita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The Hill Country of central Texas from Edwards and Uvalde County east to Travis County , with at least one record (stray?) north to Dallas. Primary syntypes ♂ collected in Kerrville, Kerr Co., Texas.
Seasonal Activity
Apparently has a short flight period in October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is unknown.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tricholita baranca. 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 Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629
What is Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629?
Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629 (Tricholita baranca) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629?
Barnes (1905) listed a wingspan of 28 mm. FW 11.5 to 15 mm, mean 12.9 mm (n = 11)(C. Sexton unpubl.).
How do you identify Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629?
Thorax and forewing relatively uniform dark brown with a slight purple tint; dark color of the FWs typically obscures any underlying pattern; a blackish sinuous PM line with outward points on the veins is sometimes visible, bordered distally by a slightly paler band; reniform spot is filled with 6 to 8 distinct white dots of varying size. There are 4 to 7 small white dots along the costal margin but terminal area and fringe only rarely show white dots, dashes, or checkering. Barnes original description is online and linked in the print references.
Where is Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629 found?
Range: The Hill Country of central Texas from Edwards and Uvalde County east to Travis County , with at least one record (stray?) north to Dallas. Primary syntypes ♂ collected in Kerrville, Kerr Co., Texas.
What does Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629 eat?
The diet of the Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629 includes Larval host is unknown..
When is Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629 active?
Tricholita baranca - Hodges#10629: seasonal activity - Apparently has a short flight period in October..