Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788
Animomyia smithii
This record describes Animomyia smithii (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults - see Rindge's description. ( 3 )
Identification notes
Adults - see Rindge's description. ( 3 )
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Nacophorini
- Genus
- Animomyia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Powell & Opler reported eastern California to eastern Colorado and Arizona. Rindge reported adults fly throughout the year in the Mojave and Sonora deserts of California and Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler reported adults all year in California and Arizona, one generation in Colorado and Utah (late June through July).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler listed two hosts. Ambrosia dumosa (burrobush) Artemisia filifolia (sand sagebrush).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Dr. John Bernhard Smith (1858-1912). At the time of its description as Graefia smithii , noting how many of the species named for him and his friend Edward Graef did not survive, Smith wrote, "if anything will kill this genus it is the combination of names." He was correct about the genus but the species survives!
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Animomyia smithii. 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 Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788
What is Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788?
Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788 (Animomyia smithii) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788?
Forewing length: ( 3 ) ♂ 11-18 mm ♀ flightless
How do you identify Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788?
Adults - see Rindge's description. ( 3 )
Where is Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788 found?
Range: Powell & Opler reported eastern California to eastern Colorado and Arizona. Rindge reported adults fly throughout the year in the Mojave and Sonora deserts of California and Arizona.
What does Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788 eat?
The diet of the Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788 includes Powell & Opler listed two hosts. Ambrosia dumosa (burrobush) Artemisia filifolia (sand sagebrush)..
When is Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788 active?
Animomyia smithii - Hodges#6788: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler reported adults all year in California and Arizona, one generation in Colorado and Utah (late June through July)..