The Vestal - Hodges#6678
Cabera variolaria
This record describes Cabera variolaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: front of head and forelegs yellowish-brown to orange; wings may be pure white (but not shiny) or white with light gray speckling and very faint traces of yellowish to grayish-brown lines crossing the wings Larva: has a green form and a brown form Rindge description as Deilinia variolaria (Guenee), is online in PDF.
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
Habitat
Mixed and deciduous woods and parklands.
Geographic Range
All of North America except Yukon and Alaska. , ,
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from May to September (2 or 3 broods).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of cherry, poplar, tamarack, willow.
Life History
Two or three generations per year; overwinters as a pupa; eggs are laid singly below but along the edge of host leaves.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: VESTAL: n. - a virgin; a woman of spotless chastity VESTAL: a. - pure; chaste (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1979) probably refers to the moth's wings, which can be pure white
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cabera variolaria. 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 The Vestal - Hodges#6678 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About The Vestal - Hodges#6678
What is The Vestal - Hodges#6678?
The Vestal - Hodges#6678 (Cabera variolaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is The Vestal - Hodges#6678?
Forewing length: ♂ 12-16 mm. ♀ 11-16 mm.
How do you identify The Vestal - Hodges#6678?
Adult: front of head and forelegs yellowish-brown to orange; wings may be pure white (but not shiny) or white with light gray speckling and very faint traces of yellowish to grayish-brown lines crossing the wings Larva: has a green form and a brown form Rindge description as Deilinia variolaria (Guenee), is online in PDF.
Where is The Vestal - Hodges#6678 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mixed and deciduous woods and parklands. |
| Range | All of North America except Yukon and Alaska. , |
What does The Vestal - Hodges#6678 eat?
The diet of the The Vestal - Hodges#6678 includes Larvae feed on leaves of cherry, poplar, tamarack, willow..
When is The Vestal - Hodges#6678 active?
The Vestal - Hodges#6678: seasonal activity - Adults fly from May to September (2 or 3 broods)..
What is the life cycle of a The Vestal - Hodges#6678?
Two or three generations per year; overwinters as a pupa; eggs are laid singly below but along the edge of host leaves.