Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563
Trichopolia oviduca
This record describes Trichopolia oviduca (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing reddish-brown. AM and PM lines fine, white, edged with black; ST line most conspicuous, yellowish white, nearly straight. Spots black with white outlines; orbicular spot touches AM line; reniform spot oval. Hindwing grayish-brown with discal spot. Larva - various shades of gray. The cervical shield is cream white with black lateral and anterior edges, while the anal shield is white laterally edged in black. The spiracles are black and the head is infuscated with black.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Eriopygini
- Genus
- Trichopolia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern United States (west to Mississippi) and coast-to-coast across southern Canada; also reported from British Columbia, south to California, Arizona, and Colorado.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to July and again in September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on dandelion, plantain, grasses, and other low plants.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Taxonomic Notes: Trichopolia oviduca (Guenée, 1852), n. comb., formerly in the genus Protorthodes (n. syn. of Trichopolia) (Schmidt in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023, includes as a synonym Protorthodes lindrothi in Lafontaine & Schmidt (2010).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Trichopolia oviduca. 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 Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563
What is Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563?
Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563 (Trichopolia oviduca) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563?
Wingspan 27-32 mm Forewing length 11-14 mm ,
How do you identify Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563?
Adult - forewing reddish-brown. AM and PM lines fine, white, edged with black; ST line most conspicuous, yellowish white, nearly straight. Spots black with white outlines; orbicular spot touches AM line; reniform spot oval. Hindwing grayish-brown with discal spot. Larva - various shades of gray. The cervical shield is cream white with black lateral and anterior edges, while the anal shield is white laterally edged in black. The spiracles are black and the head is infuscated with black.
Where is Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563 found?
Range: Eastern United States (west to Mississippi) and coast-to-coast across southern Canada; also reported from British Columbia, south to California, Arizona, and Colorado.
What does Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563 eat?
The diet of the Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563 includes Larvae feed on dandelion, plantain, grasses, and other low plants..
When is Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563 active?
Ruddy Quaker - Hodges#10563: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to July and again in September..