Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309
Trichordestra prodeniformis
This record describes Trichordestra prodeniformis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray with silvery shading in subterminal, lower median, and costal areas; orbicular spot oblong, oblique, rimmed in white; paler grayish-brown shading along inner margin; subterminal line silvery white, with prominent W-shaped jog near middle; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to gray distally, with dark veins and pale fringe
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
Geographic Range
California to Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in summer
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: proden = disclosing or avowing + formis = shape or form ( Google Translate ) Perhaps relates to the "prominent W-shape" (RLZ)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Trichordestra prodeniformis. 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 Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309
What is Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309?
Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309 (Trichordestra prodeniformis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309?
wingspan about 35 mm, based on two Internet photos
How do you identify Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309?
Adult: forewing dark gray with silvery shading in subterminal, lower median, and costal areas; orbicular spot oblong, oblique, rimmed in white; paler grayish-brown shading along inner margin; subterminal line silvery white, with prominent W-shaped jog near middle; hindwing dirty white basally, shading to gray distally, with dark veins and pale fringe
Where is Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309 found?
Range: California to Texas
When is Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309 active?
Trichordestra prodeniformis - Hodges#10309: seasonal activity - adults fly in summer.