Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1
Trichopolia ustulata
This record describes Trichopolia ustulata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The reniform spot is described as kidney shaped, but can be greatly constricted at the middle appearing like a figure 8.
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
southeastern Wyoming south to the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas and westward to central and southeastern Arizona
Seasonal Activity
two flights - April to mid-May and early August to early October
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Trichopolia ustulata. 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 Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban
Frequently Asked Questions About Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1
What is Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1?
Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1 (Trichopolia ustulata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1?
forewing length 12-15 mm
How do you identify Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1?
The reniform spot is described as kidney shaped, but can be greatly constricted at the middle appearing like a figure 8.
Where is Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1 found?
Range: southeastern Wyoming south to the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas and westward to central and southeastern Arizona
When is Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1 active?
Trichopolia ustulata - Hodges#10557.1: seasonal activity - two flights - April to mid-May and early August to early October.