Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122
Virbia rubicundaria
This record describes Virbia rubicundaria (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Adult : Head and antennal scales clay with light orange hues. Third segment of labial palpus exceeding front of head by at least half of entire length, all segments a blend of clay and flesh ocher. |
| Forewings | Forewings are clay with light orange hues. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings are flesh ocher with a brown discal spot and brown subterminal markings. |
| Legs | Legs a blend of clay and flesh ocher. |
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
Geographic Range
Found from Georgia and Florida, along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas.
Seasonal Activity
There are multiple generations per year with adults on wing year-round.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae have been reared on dandelion species and Lactuca floridana.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Virbia rubicundaria. 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 Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by ceiseman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122
What is Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122?
Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122 (Virbia rubicundaria) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122?
FWL: 8.9 mm (male) 8.7 mm (females)
How do you identify Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Adult : Head and antennal scales clay with light orange hues. Third segment of labial palpus exceeding front of head by at least half of entire length, all segments a blend of clay and flesh ocher. |
| Forewings | Forewings are clay with light orange hues. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings are flesh ocher with a brown discal spot and brown subterminal markings. |
| Legs | Legs a blend of clay and flesh ocher. |
Where is Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122 found?
Range: Found from Georgia and Florida, along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas.
What does Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122 eat?
The diet of the Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122 includes Larvae have been reared on dandelion species and Lactuca floridana..
When is Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122 active?
Ruddy Virbia - Hodges#8122: seasonal activity - There are multiple generations per year with adults on wing year-round..