Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304
Trichordestra legitima
This record describes Trichordestra legitima (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing inner half pale gray, and outer (costal) half reddish-brown; AM and PM lines double, slightly scalloped; claviform spot a sharp black triangle; orbicular spot oval, pale gray; reniform spot reddish-brown with blackish lower end; subterminal area a pale gray band, shading to reddish-brown near costa; hindwing pale brownish-yellow, shading to dark brownish-gray near outer margin, and with dark veins and discal lunule; fringe yellowish Caterpillar: body brown with pair of yellow dorsal stripes edged in black; face tan-colored common
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Trichordestra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Caterpillars are found in open areas of grass and flowers. Adults are nocturnal and come to light.
Geographic Range
eastern North America: Newfoundland to Florida, west to Texas, north to Saskatchewan - Map - (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Adults from June to September. Caterpillars late summer through fall.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Trichordestra legitima larvae feed on a wide variety of woody and herbaceous plants, including asparagus, aster, bean, broomrape, cherry, clover, dogbane, goldenrod, grasses, milkweed, mustard, pea, raspberry, tobacco, violet, willow, yarrow
Life History
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Trichordestra legitima. 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 Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Mike Quinn , Graham M , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304
What is Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304?
Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304 (Trichordestra legitima) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304?
wingspan 25-39 mm larva to 35 mm
How do you identify Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304?
Adult: forewing inner half pale gray, and outer (costal) half reddish-brown; AM and PM lines double, slightly scalloped; claviform spot a sharp black triangle; orbicular spot oval, pale gray; reniform spot reddish-brown with blackish lower end; subterminal area a pale gray band, shading to reddish-brown near costa; hindwing pale brownish-yellow, shading to dark brownish-gray near outer margin, and with dark veins and discal lunule; fringe yellowish Caterpillar: body brown with pair of yellow dorsal stripes edged in black; face tan-colored
Where is Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Caterpillars are found in open areas of grass and flowers. Adults are nocturnal and come to light. |
| Range | eastern North America: Newfoundland to Florida, west to Texas, north to Saskatchewan - Map - (MPG) |
What does Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304 eat?
The diet of the Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304 includes Trichordestra legitima larvae feed on a wide variety of woody and herbaceous plants, including asparagus, aster, bean, broomrape, cherry, clover, dogbane, goldenrod, grasses, milkweed, mustard, pea, raspberry, tobacco, violet, willow, yarrow.
When is Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304 active?
Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304: seasonal activity - Adults from June to September. Caterpillars late summer through fall..
What is the life cycle of a Striped Garden Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#10304?
one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa