Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680
Cabera quadrifasciaria
This record describes Cabera quadrifasciaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Forewing has four transverse lines. The Rindge revised description as Deilinia quadrifasciaria (Packard), is available online in PDF. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Caberini
- Genus
- Cabera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Colorado, eastward throughout most of the eastern United States, especially near the tributaries of the Mississippi River. , , ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from May to July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plant Amorpha fruticosa (False Wild Indigo). Leadplant ( Amorpha canescens ) may also be a host plant. Adults have been found in places where there is Leadplant but not False Wild Indigo nearby, and larvae have been successfully reared on Leadplant. (information from Jim Sogaard)
Life History
Life Cycle images: green larva on leadplant; final instar green larva; brown larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cabera quadrifasciaria. 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 Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680
What is Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680?
Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680 (Cabera quadrifasciaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680?
Forewing length: ♂ 14-16 mm. ♀ 13-15 mm.
How do you identify Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680?
Forewing has four transverse lines. The Rindge revised description as Deilinia quadrifasciaria (Packard), is available online in PDF. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680 found?
Range: Colorado, eastward throughout most of the eastern United States, especially near the tributaries of the Mississippi River. , , ,
What does Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680 eat?
The diet of the Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680 includes Larval host plant Amorpha fruticosa (False Wild Indigo). Leadplant ( Amorpha canescens ) may also be a host plant. Adults have been found in places where there is Leadplant but not False Wild Indigo nearby, and larvae have been successfully reared on Leadplant. (information from Jim Sogaard).
When is Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680 active?
Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from May to July..
What is the life cycle of a Four-lined Cabera Moth - Hodges#6680?
Life Cycle images: green larva on leadplant; final instar green larva; brown larva; adult