Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635
Acasis viridata
This record describes Acasis viridata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing a mix of brownish-gray and yellowish-green shading with broken transverse lines and many black longitudinal dashes along veins; hindwing light brownish-gray with faint median line and discal dot but appearing virtually unmarked from a distance; abdomen lacks blackish band near base
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Lobophorini
- Genus
- Acasis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
mature deciduous and mixed woodland; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to British Columbia and adjacent northern states, south in the east to Florida, and south in the west to Colorado and Oregon
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on flowerheads of Possumhaw ( Viburnum nudum [=cassinoides] ) [Handfield, p. 256], and Viburnum lentago
Life History
one generation per year Larva, Adult:
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: At Words by William Whitaker , "viridata" translates to "become green". This is most certainly referring to the wing coloration.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acasis viridata. 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 Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635
What is Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635?
Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635 (Acasis viridata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635?
wingspan 18-20 mm
How do you identify Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635?
Adult: forewing a mix of brownish-gray and yellowish-green shading with broken transverse lines and many black longitudinal dashes along veins; hindwing light brownish-gray with faint median line and discal dot but appearing virtually unmarked from a distance; abdomen lacks blackish band near base
Where is Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mature deciduous and mixed woodland; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Newfoundland to British Columbia and adjacent northern states, south in the east to Florida, and south in the west to Colorado and Oregon |
What does Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635 eat?
The diet of the Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635 includes larvae feed on flowerheads of Possumhaw ( Viburnum nudum [=cassinoides] ) [Handfield, p. 256], and Viburnum lentago.
When is Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635 active?
Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to July.
What is the life cycle of a Olive-and-black Carpet - Hodges#7635?
one generation per year Larva, Adult: