Agrochola

Hübner, 1821

Species Guides

Agrochola lota(Red-line Quaker)
Agrochola pulchella(cutworm moth)
Agrochola purpurea(Purple Sallow Moth)

Agrochola is a of in the Noctuidae, established by Jacob Hübner in 1821. are primarily autumn-flying (late August to November) with . The genus includes species of conservation concern; Agrochola litura has declined substantially in Britain (73% abundance decrease 1970–2016). Long-term monitoring data from Prague showed Agrochola lychnidis exhibited significant decrease over 29 years. Some authorities treat Sunira as a subgenus of Agrochola.

Agrochola by (c) SteveM4560, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by SteveM4560. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agrochola: /ˌæɡroʊˈkoʊlə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Broad-leaved woodland and scrubland; hedgerows; parks; grasslands; heaths; fenland; gardens; parkland. Specific associations vary by .

Distribution

Europe from southern Scandinavia southwest to Pyrenees and northern Mediterranean edge; east through Turkey and Western Asia to Caspian Sea; Britain (including Scilly and Channel Islands); Asia Minor; Armenia. Records from North America (Vermont) require verification.

Seasonality

period: late August to early November. Peak activity in autumn. stage: .

Diet

Larvae: on herbaceous plants and grasses (A. litura); flower and developing seeds of deciduous trees including ash, poplar, sallow, and wych elm (A. circellaris). : feed on overripe blackberries and ivy blossom (A. litura).

Host Associations

Salix - larval food plant (climbing )A. litura
Crataegus - larval food plant (climbing )A. litura
Quercus - larval food plant (climbing )A. litura
Fraxinus (ash) - larval food plantA. circellaris
Populus (poplar) - larval food plantA. circellaris
Ulmus glabra (wych elm) - larval food plantA. circellaris
Ulmus minor (field elm) - larval food plantA. circellaris

Life Cycle

Monovoltine. overwinter, hatching in spring. Larvae develop through spring and early summer; some climb trees to complete growth. Subterranean cocoon formed in early June with within six weeks. emerge late summer to autumn.

Behavior

, attracted to light. Larvae of some exhibit climbing onto trees to complete growth. Extended cocoon period (several weeks) observed before in A. circellaris.

Ecological Role

Seed and herbivore on deciduous trees; herbivore on herbaceous vegetation. trends have been used as indicators in long-term insect monitoring studies.

Human Relevance

Subject of long-term monitoring studies due to detectable abundance trends. Agrochola litura identified as of conservation concern with substantial documented decline. sequencing completed for A. litura and A. circellaris as part of Darwin Tree of Life project.

Similar Taxa

SuniraTaxonomic boundary disputed; some authorities treat Sunira as subgenus of Agrochola, others as separate . sometimes transferred between genera (e.g., A. bicolorago, A. decipiens, A. verberata).

More Details

Genome Resources

Chromosomally complete assemblies available: A. litura (772.2 Mb, 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules including Z and W , 19,500 protein-coding genes); A. circellaris (572 Mb, 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, 15.5 kb mitochondrial genome, 18,319 protein-coding genes).

Population Trends

A. litura: 73% abundance decline in Britain 1970–2016, 82% decline over 35 years. A. lychnidis: significant decrease detected in 29-year Prague light-trap study (1967–1995). These trends were not linked to diet, body size, abundance level, voltinism, or stage in multivariate analysis.

Fecundity

A. litura exhibits relatively low (201 from single studied female) and potential growth rate compared to some migrant noctuid .