Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557
Trichopolia rufula
This record describes Trichopolia rufula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing rust-colored, reddish-brown, or dull orangish; AM, PM, and subterminal lines distinct; orbicular and reniform spots dark brownish-gray, outlined in pale scales; dark scales along veins from PM line to outer margin give subterminal area a faintly streaked appearance; fringe dark; hindwing dirty gray, paler toward base, with dark gray veins and discal spot; fringe white. Larva - dark gray with pink or red tinge dorsally and sometimes with a bronze sheen; pale middorsal and subdorsal lines and a segmental series of dark ovoid markings. The spiracles are brown with black rims. The cervical and anal shields are white with black lateral edging, The head is pale with brown and black reticulation and coronal stripes.
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
British Columbia to California, east to at least Arizona and Utah.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly mainly from April to September in California.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host: rosaceous trees and shrubs including Malus, Prunus, and Pyrus.
Life History
Larva pupate in soil.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: rufula : presumably from the Latin "rufus" (red); probably refers to the color of the forewing, and is the origin of the suggested common name Rufous Quaker.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Trichopolia rufula. 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 Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557
What is Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557?
Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557 (Trichopolia rufula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557?
Forewing length 13-16 mm ,
How do you identify Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557?
Adult - forewing rust-colored, reddish-brown, or dull orangish; AM, PM, and subterminal lines distinct; orbicular and reniform spots dark brownish-gray, outlined in pale scales; dark scales along veins from PM line to outer margin give subterminal area a faintly streaked appearance; fringe dark; hindwing dirty gray, paler toward base, with dark gray veins and discal spot; fringe white. Larva - dark gray with pink or red tinge dorsally and sometimes with a bronze sheen; pale middorsal and subdorsal lines and a segmental series of dark ovoid markings. The spiracles are brown with black rims. The cervical and anal shields are white with black lateral edging, The head is pale with brown and black reticulation and coronal stripes.
Where is Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557 found?
Range: British Columbia to California, east to at least Arizona and Utah.
What does Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557 eat?
The diet of the Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557 includes Larval host: rosaceous trees and shrubs including Malus, Prunus, and Pyrus..
When is Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557 active?
Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557: seasonal activity - Adults fly mainly from April to September in California..
What is the life cycle of a Rufous Quaker - Hodges#10557?
Larva pupate in soil.