Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123
Virbia ferruginosa
This record describes Virbia ferruginosa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Easily confused with Virbia aurantiaca . The subterminal hindwing band of V. aurantiaca is solid, whereas the subterminal area of V. ferruginosa has a series of blotches and spots, not a solid band, according to this revision of the genus. This presumably applies to males only, since the revision shows images of females of both species with black splotches rather than a solid band on the hindwings. There are also forms of V. ferruginosa that lack the black markings on the hindwings altogether and could be confused with V. immaculata , but V. immaculata is smaller and generally emerges in June and August in the Northeast (sometimes very late July), while V. ferruginosa emerges mostly in July (sometimes very late June)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Virbia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Late June to July [cite:1187786]
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been reared on Taraxacum (dandelion)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Virbia ferruginosa. 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 Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Nick Block , ceiseman , Robert Lord Zimlich , dennepj10 , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123
What is Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123?
Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123 (Virbia ferruginosa) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123?
Wingspan about 24 mm.
How do you identify Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123?
Easily confused with Virbia aurantiaca . The subterminal hindwing band of V. aurantiaca is solid, whereas the subterminal area of V. ferruginosa has a series of blotches and spots, not a solid band, according to this revision of the genus. This presumably applies to males only, since the revision shows images of females of both species with black splotches rather than a solid band on the hindwings. There are also forms of V. ferruginosa that lack the black markings on the hindwings altogether and could be confused with V. immaculata , but V. immaculata is smaller and generally emerges in June and August in the Northeast (sometimes very late July), while V. ferruginosa emerges mostly in July (sometimes very late June)
What does Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123 eat?
The diet of the Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123 includes Larvae have been reared on Taraxacum (dandelion).
When is Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123 active?
Rusty Virbia - Hodges#8123: seasonal activity - Late June to July [cite:1187786].