Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221
Ceratodalia gueneata
This record describes Ceratodalia gueneata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brownish-gray, paler along costa and outer margin; PM line triple but not visible in all specimens; AM line double; ST line with 3 or 4 large dark teeth near costa; fringe pale except for dark scaling at veins, giving checkered appearance; hindwing slightly paler than forewing, with white PM line; fringe checkered; outer margin protruding, slightly angular Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia: ♂ Described by Packard in 1876. The type specimens (syntypes) were collected in California and in Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Ceratodalia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
western North America: British Columbia and Alberta to Colorado and California
Seasonal Activity
adults fly mostly in July and August
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ceratodalia gueneata. 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 Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221
What is Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221?
Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221 (Ceratodalia gueneata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221?
wingspan 23-26 mm (BG images)
How do you identify Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221?
Adult: forewing brownish-gray, paler along costa and outer margin; PM line triple but not visible in all specimens; AM line double; ST line with 3 or 4 large dark teeth near costa; fringe pale except for dark scaling at veins, giving checkered appearance; hindwing slightly paler than forewing, with white PM line; fringe checkered; outer margin protruding, slightly angular Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Genitalia: ♂
Where is Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221 found?
Range: western North America: British Columbia and Alberta to Colorado and California
When is Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221 active?
Ceratodalia gueneata - Hodges#7221: seasonal activity - adults fly mostly in July and August.