Species Orthodes majuscula - Rustic Quaker - Hodges#10585

10585

Orthodes majuscula Herrich-Schäffer, 1868

Orthodes crenulata (Butler, 1890)

Phylogenetic sequence # 933136 (1)

MAJUSCULA: a Latin word, the feminine of majusculus, meaning "somewhat larger", as in the majuscules (large capital letters) used in medieval manuscripts

Orthodes majuscula is somewhat larger than closely-related Quaker moths such as Cynical, Ruddy, and Small Brown Quaker

Powell & Opler (2009) listed the forewing length 12-14 mm. (2)

Adult: forewing medium gray or brown with black triangle on collar and large pale-margined orbicular and reniform spots, often touching; AM and ST lines straight, pale yellow or whitish; PM line same color, bent at sharp angle just below reniform spot; black spots on veins below PM line; terminal line crenulate (many small scallops) almost touching outer margin; hindwing dark grayish-brown.

Specimen identified by DNA analysis:

Genitalia:

♂

Alberta eastward across Canada, eastern United States; Arizona.

The adults fly from February to November but can probably be found year round in the southern most states.

The larvae feed on wide variety of plants, including dandelion, plantain, grasses, and willow.

Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. p. 306; pl. 56, fig. 23. (2)

Wagner, D.L., Schweitzer, D.F., Sullivan, J.B. & R.C. Reardon, 2011. Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press. p. 517.(3)

Moth Photographers Group (4)

The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) (5)

Moths of southeastern Arizona (Bruce Walsh) (6)

Moths of Dallas County, Texas (Dale Clark)(7)