Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693
Apodrepanulatrix liberaria
This record describes Apodrepanulatrix liberaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Although there is variation in the extent of the brown shading, the general color, pointed apex on the forewing, and late-season flight period should be diagnostic in the eastern United States. Listed as an endangered species in Massachusetts.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Apodrepanulatrix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"Populations occur in habitats where the food plant is abundant or at least widely distributed. This includes dry sandy habitats like remnant oak savannahs, openings in oak woodlands, pine barrens, rock outcrops, and in open ridge-top woods. Some historical populations were on more disturbed sites such as an old gravel pit in New Haven County, Connecticut (in the late 1970s). Powerlines through barrens often provide habitat today. The sand plains of Wisconsin and probably Michigan, along with Appalachian shale barrens, are probably the strongholds for now Apodrepanulatrix liberaria " .
Geographic Range
"Spottily distributed from extreme southern Quebec and southern Ontario southward into northern Florida and Mississippi .
Seasonal Activity
"On the wing from August through October, rarely as early as June" .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: New Jersey tea ( Ceanothus americanus ) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apodrepanulatrix liberaria. 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 Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693
What is Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693?
Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693 (Apodrepanulatrix liberaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693?
Wingspan: 25-35 mm . Larvae to 30 mm (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife).
How do you identify Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693?
Although there is variation in the extent of the brown shading, the general color, pointed apex on the forewing, and late-season flight period should be diagnostic in the eastern United States.
Where is Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Populations occur in habitats where the food plant is abundant or at least widely distributed. This includes dry sandy habitats like remnant oak savannahs, openings in oak woodlands, pine barrens, rock outcrops, and in open ridge-top woods. Some historical populations were on more disturbed sites such as an old gravel pit in New Haven County, Connecticut (in the late 1970s). Powerlines through barrens often provide habitat today. The sand plains of Wisconsin and probably Michigan, along with Appalachian shale barrens, are probably the strongholds for now Apodrepanulatrix liberaria . |
| Range | Spottily distributed from extreme southern Quebec and southern Ontario southward into northern Florida and Mississippi . |
What does Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693 eat?
The diet of the Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693 includes New Jersey tea ( Ceanothus americanus ) ..
When is Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693 active?
Apodrepanulatrix liberaria - Hodges#6693: seasonal activity - On the wing from August through October, rarely as early as June ..